Taming costly fires

Recently, Lilongwe Market went up in flames. This is just one episode in a seemingly endless story of market fires that keep gutting lives of business people trying to earn a living honestly. Our reporter ALBERT SHARRA engages Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kondwani Nakhumwa to get to the bottom of the chronic tragedy.

Q

:Government has pledged to support businesspeople whose shops were razed down in Lilongwe. What has prompted government to do so?

A

: Government has indeed pledged to support vendors in making sure that they resettle in their businesses as soon as possible. This is going to be done through the reconstruction of market shades as well as kiosks that were initially constructed by Lilongwe City Council.

Q

: Usually, government support comes late and this exposes the victims to long-time hardships. What is the approach this time?

As earlier stated, government will provide support to make sure that the reconstruction is done in time. Apart from that, government has no obligation to provide compensations to vendors affected by market fires.  However, government condoles the vendors although there are no guidelines to ensure that donations are predictable and transparent. Although handouts are helpful to vendors affected by market fires, it is recommended that they should be discouraged because they act as an incentive for deliberate burning of markets by unscrupulous characters.

Q

: Why not encourage the informal sector to buy insurance instead of waiting for handouts when tragedy strikes?

Insurers have had problems in providing services to vendors because of the poor structures of the kiosks in our markets. A report on market fires that was released in 2014 recommended that councils should develop clear building designs of the kiosks which vendors can use. The kiosks should be made of bricks and other non-combustible materials. The councils are, however, expected to consult vendors in developing designs for purposes of ownership and ease of enforcement. You may wish to know that, currently Mzuzu and Kasungu markets were reconstructed using these bricks. With this type of construction, councils now pursue the issue of insurance cover for markets

vigilantly. In order to promote ownership, councils are expected to insure their market infrastructure while vendors are supposed to insure their goods and property. In case of fire accidents, each party would therefore be compensated in accordance with the terms of their insurance cover.

Q

: The fires are either caused by irresponsible individuals in the markets or electric faults. Knowing that prevention is better than cure, what is government doing to put a stop to such accidents?

A

: Apart from construction of kiosks with fire resistant materials, government is expected to come up with proper standard building designs for markets that can satisfy the minimum fire safety standards to qualify for insurance. These modem markets will have adequate structures to be allocated to the vendors so that they do not construct their own substandard structures as has been the case. In addition, fire fighting facilities and fire safety systems will be an integral part of the designs.

Q

: What are you doing in aid of fire fighters who have come under fire for reacting late and using faulty extinguishing machines?

A

: The city fire departments have operating guidelines which emphasise on them being alert 24 hours per day and seven days of the week. Being alert means people working on shift at any given point of time, tanks have to be full of water at any given time and fuel reserves have to be fully stocked at any point. My Ministry will investigate why there is laxity in the recent past in some of the councils in making sure that these guidelines are not adhered to. Unlike in other countries, Malawi does not have dedicated routes for fire fighting vehicles to use. The fire fighters rely on other road users to clear the road for them to have access and reach their destination fast.

Q

: You mean lack of access roads in markets?

A

: Yes, access roads to markets were encroached by vendors. It is usually difficult for the fire engines to access some parts of the markets. This problem is going to be solved by the construction of new markets as well as new market designs that are currently being used by the city councils. Councils have started putting fire extinguishers in the markets. These extinguishers can also be used by laymen to avoid fire from spreading to other areas.

Q

: There are some businesspeople, who are still waiting to occupy their newly-constructed markets such as the one at Mbulumbuzi, Chiradzulu. Why is the market not  opened yet?

A

: Vendors have started using the Mbulumbuzi Market, but what is remaining is the proper allocation of kiosks. Currently the number of potential vendors that expressed interest to use the kiosks is more than the number of kiosks. Chiradzulu District Council is in the process of planning on how best this can be handled. Otherwise, the market is up and running.

Q

: What is your word to all those who have lost their property in Lilongwe and other gutted markets across the country?

A

: The loss of property by vendors through an inferno is a concern to my Ministry as well as Malawi Government. This is a negative development that will affect not just the vendors, but the country as a whole. My Ministry will work tirelessly in making sure that vendors re-establish their business. Therefore, I implore all vendors to also take care of the market structures. n