Despite Lilongwe City Council banning street vending, the situation on the ground looks different as vending still flourishes, Malawi News Agency has established.
A visit to the city on Tuesday showed vendors selling second-hand clothes, housewares and vegetables along the streets.
the street. I Paul Madise
The council released a notice on September 26 reminding the public and business operators that vending in unauthorised areas was strictly prohibited under the vending and marketing by-laws.
The council indicated through a statement that from September 29 2025, anyone found selling commodities in these areas will be dealt with. However, vendors have defied the ban.
In an interview, a vendor Steve Jumbe, expressed concerns that the city’s enforcement efforts were dictated by politics.
“We always wonder why we are not prohibited from conducting business during campaign periods. If government is honest, let them apply the laws all the time and not only after elections,” he said.
On his part, Lilongwe Tsoka Flea Market chairperson Steve Magombo appealed to the government to take decisive action against unauthorised trading.
“I, therefore, advise city council officials to refrain from being too attached to political figures who at times influence decisions as some vendors are taking advantage of the same,” he said.
Lilongwe City Council chief executive officer Macloud Kadam’manja assured that the council remains committed to addressing urban challenges and maintaining a clean and orderly city.
He said the council engaged vendors’ leaders and other stakeholders to identify solutions for those requiring space in authorised markets.
