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BCC confiscates 25 containers

About 25 containers such as these have been confiscated
About 25 containers such as these have been confiscated

Sichola_addresses_journalists_jul16 Mwalwanda_jul16 Activity_at_limbe_auction_floors_jul16Blantyre City Council (BCC) has confiscated over 25 containers full of items from businesspeople in Blantyre and Limbe as some of them were blocking entrance to other shops.

The BCC chief executive officer, Ted Nandolo confirmed to Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Thursday that the containers were removed because they were blocking entrance to people’s homes and some shops in Limbe.

But Nandolo did not say how many containers have been taken from both Limbe and Blantyre, saying there was need to liaise with those who were doing the exercise.

“It is true that we have taken containers from Limbe and Blantyre markets. The reason is that those containers were blocking entrance to some places.

“Indeed, we have been taking those containers during the night to avoid fighting with the owners. All these were done to pave way for access to other places.

“The owners can come to collect those containers from our offices after they have paid a certain fee according to city by-laws.

“Above all, they will meet costs city council used to remove those containers to its offices,” he said.

He, however, could not say how much every person is supposed to pay before they take the containers which have been parked at the council’s offices.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, one of the businesspeople whose container was confiscated said the city council is charging K500 000 (about $1 250) for the release of the containers.

He said the city authorities were doing the exercise before even giving notice to the business fraternity and that the money being charged is huge compared to the nature of the businesses.

“I think this tendency by city council needs to be cautioned. I mean this can encourage stealing as somebody also can come during night and take the containers thinking that they are city authorities.

“Even by the time they were removing the container they did not consider to handle them well as some goods have been damaged,” he said.

A snap survey carried out by Mana has revealed that most of the victims who have been highly affected are Burundians and that 25 containers have been confiscated from Limbe.

Nandolo said the exercise of confiscating the containers is ongoing to ensure that business containers are well parked in line with city by-laws.

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