Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has commissioned the construction of seven modern markets worth K84 billion, whose construction works started on August 1 2026.
The project comprises four double-storey markets to be built in Limbe in Blantyre City, Thyolo District, Lilongwe City and Mzuzu City and three single-storey markets to be constructed at Chimbiya in Dedza as well as Chitipa and Nkhata Bay districts.
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ben Phiri on Saturday launched the construction of Limbe and Thyolo markets, which will cost K14.4 billion and K15.3 billion, respectively.
He said the markets fulfil a campaign promise President Peter Mutharika made before the September 16 2025 General Election to reduce economic migration as the country’s population continues to grow.
Said Phiri in an interview: “Economic migration will always be there, but there is a need to control it. Two things that we are doing, we are going up in terms of infrastructure to accommodate more people.
“Other than that, we are again doing rural growth centres to control the economic migration wherever possible, to provide rooms for our people there to trade and improve themselves.”
The market facilities are being constructed under the Transforming Agriculture Through Diversification and Entrepreneurship (Trade) Programme.
Trade National Programme coordinator Barbara Ntapara said the markets will also have cold rooms for handling milk and milk products to support farmers.
The double-storey markets are expected to be completed within two years, while the single-storey markets are scheduled for completion within one year.
The projects are being funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Opec Fund for International Development and the Malawi Government at K84 billion.
