Paramount Chief Kyungu of Chitipa and Karonga districts has asked small-scale business operators in Karonga proposing to boycott paying market fees to give negotiations a chance.
The disgruntled business operators suspended the boycott last week while waiting for a response from government on their request to remove the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) ad-hock roadblock at Chilumba Barracks.
Their 14-day ultimatum to government to remove the roadblock expired on Monday and they called on Karonga District Council to discuss the way forward.
Speaking on Tuesday during the meeting, Kyungu said he knows how dire the food situation was in the district.
He said: “I would not allow people to starve due to food scarcity caused by the said ad-hock roadblock. This is a multi-sectoral issue that requires patience and a multi-sectoral approach.
“All I am asking from you is just wait for a week so that I engage with government ministries on how best to deal with the situation because demonstrations are counterproductive.”
Karonga Market chairperson Godwin Ghambi said as law-abiding citizens, they will give dialogue a chance.
“However, we are not happy that government is delaying to resolve the issues,” he said.
Both Karonga district commissioner Rodrick Mateauma and council chairperson Isaac Kalambo, who accompanied Kyungu to the meeting with the traders, declined to comment.
Two weeks ago, the traders boycotted paying market fees which resulted in the council losing K1.8 million in revenue in a week.
