Mzuzu City struggles to curb illegal vending

 Mzuzu City Council says it is struggling to relocate vendors selling their merchandise in undesignated places in the city.

In an interview on Wednesday, Mzuzu City Council spokesperson McDonald Gondwe said many vendors return to the same undesignated places despite the council’s numerous enforcement mechanisms to curb the malpractice.

He said they are expecting a lasting solution.

Said Gondwe: “We have seen increased street vending despite our efforts in ensuring sanity in the city.

“Yet, we have Mzuzu Central Market, Zigwagwa Market and Ndata Flea Market which became operational in 2014, but despite these available spaces, some vendors prefer plying their businesses in unapproved areas.”

Adam Ascot, one of the vendors who sells groceries outside Mzuzu Main Market, claimed he sells more items along the street.

He said: “We want to be placed at a better market that will help us boost our business as we are not satisfied with where the council wants to relocate us.

“Here, I sell one carton of Azam tablet soap a day while it takes three or four days to sell the same at Ndata Flea Market.”

Another vendor, Jane Soko, who sells potatoes at an undesignated space, urged the council to expand the main market to accommodate more vendors.

“We don’t want to relocate to markets which are unfavourable to business,” she said.

Mzuzu Central Market vice-secretary Master Katete urged the council to find a win-win solution to the problem considering that people use the city to survive through business or employment.

“The council should research on why people opt to operate outside the market,” he said.

At Chiyaleyale Market, which is undesignated trading place outside the central market, vendors were seen selling their merchandis