Communities and vendors around Lirangwe Market in Blantyre District have welcomed a clean-up campaign initiated by Linjidzi Ward councillor Akima Mustaf Chipwatali from Blantyre North Constituency to keep the environment clean.
The clean-up exercise follows President Peter Mutharika’s Executive order to keep public spaces clean.
To comply with the order, Chipwatali, who said she was in support of directives by Blantyre district commissioner Alex Mdooko, launched the exercise at Lirangwe Market on Tuesday.
| Wisdom Chirombo
In his remarks, Lirangwe Market chairperson Manuel Bwaila described the exercise as a timely intervention aimed at addressing sanitation gaps in some parts of the market, which he said had become difficult to manage due to the market’s size.
“Maintaining hygiene at the market is a shared responsibility because outbreaks of sanitation-related diseases negatively affect both vendors and customers using the market,” he said.
On her part, Chipwatali, who is affiliated to Democratic Progressive Party, said the initiative reflects people’s collective responsibility to ensure that markets remain clean.
“I thank vendors, traditional leaders and fellow councillors for participating in the exercise,” she said.
Blantyre District Council chairperson Lenzo Kalonga underscored the importance of sustaining sanitation initiatives.
He said: “We are reinforcing the waste management agenda championed by Malawi Local Government Association president Isaac Jomo Osman.
“Blantyre District Council has also procured a tractor to improve waste collection in the district.”
