Vendors in Nkhotakota District have expressed excitement with a shelter at Benga Market constructed under the World Bank-funded Governance to Enable Service Delivery (Gesd) project.
A tomato seller, Monica Kalulu from Chipeleka Village in Traditional Authority Mwadzama said the shelter has provided a safe environment for business.
“I ventured into tomato business a decade ago. It was not easy considering that I was conducting my business in an open space and that meant braving the rains and heat daily,” she said.
Kalulu said such situations nearly forced her to quit the business until Nkhotakota District Council constructed the shelter under Gesd Project.
“Selling tomatoes at the designated place and clean environment has improved my business. I’m paying school fees for my children, one at Mzuzu University and another at Benga Community Day Secondary School,” she said.
A fish seller Juma Meleka of Chakaka Village in T/A Mwadzama said the new market shelter have motivated many vendors to leave undesignated spaces to trade in the market.
“I have gained more trust from my customers as I am always found at one place,” she said.
The market’s chairperson Donex Loudon said the shelter has not only provided a healthy environment for doing business but also motivated vendors to pay market fees.
“However, we ask the district council to construct a fence around the market to enhance security as well as connect the market to electricity,” he said.
Nkhotakota District Council trade and commerce officer Clara Kadzuwa said they are pleased to see traders utilising the market.
“Already, we can see the fruits of this project. Benga Market has boosted revenue collection as it becomes easy for ticket sellers to do their work. We are able to collect more now, which was not the case before,” he said.
Nkhotakota acting district commissioner Mathias Blugama assured vendors that the council will keep lobbying for funding for more market shelters at the market.
