Vendors, Malawi police remove street vendors in Mzuzu

Vendors in Mzuzu have embarked on what they call ‘Operation Dongosolo’ to flush out street vendors, arguing their businesses are at risk with street vending.

The exercise, being done alongside police to ensure peace, started on Wednesday. The vendors are taking the lead to protect their businesses.

Secretary for Vendors in Mzuzu Franklin Hara yesterday said with street vending in progress, the vendors inside markets experience a big fall in sales because people buy from the street vendors who block entry to markets and shops.

He said the scramble for customers was more annoying since street vendors do not pay the daily market fees and monthly rentals which are high.

“Our businesses are at risk with these street vendors. People buy from them when we are the ones who pay tax and pay for rooms. So, where do we get the money to meet that if we don’t make sales?

“The street vendors sell what we have inside and people find it easy buying from them as they block the entries to the markets,” said Hara.

Vendors Association of Malawi (VAM) secretary (North) Zikani Moyo said the vendors decided to take the lead because street vendors have proved to be rude to officials. Mzuzu Police spokesperson Maurice Chapola said with boom, in street vending, crime, especially theft, was on the rise in the city.

“Thieves take advantage of the congestion in the streets to steal from people who were buying or walking in the streets,” said Chapola.

He said street vending also led to poor hygiene which would have led to breeding of diseases. He said there were also fears of road accidents as the vendors flooded the roads and car parks.