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Gaming Board hands over K40m curio market

Malawi Gaming Board (MGB) on Friday handed over to the Lilongwe City Council (LCC) a K40 million Lilongwe Curio Market.

Speaking during the handover of the facility to Lilongwe City mayor Desmond Bikoko, MGB chief executive officer Master Maliro said the shelter will alleviate the vendors’ suffering.

Officials tour the Curio Market

“It pleased the board to assist the city having seen the misery our vendors were going through when selling their curios in the sun and sometimes having their merchandise soaked with rain. As such, the board found it necessary to construct this market to improve the image of the city as well,” he said.

Maliro said MGB regulates the gambling business in the country by issuing licenses and collecting levies.

“It is part of this levy that we use to complement government’s efforts in various areas of need such as this. The projects the board embarks on form part of its core business and not just corporate social investment,” he said.

Maliro said MGB is constructing another curio market in Blantyre.

On his part, Bikoko said the construction of the curio market was done under the public private partnership (PPP) arrangement.

“As a city council, we provided the labour and the designs whereas the Gaming Board financed the project to the tune of K40 million. The construction of this facility will curb street vending and keep the city clean, adding beauty at the same time,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, director of tourism Isaac Katopola, who was the guest of honour at the event, said Lilongwe,  being a  home to most diplomatic missions and embassies, is one of the most visited cities in the country and, as such, it needs to have good facilities.

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