By Isaac Salima:
Blantyre City Council (BCC) officials and Limbe vendors have agreed to stop hostilities and find a win-win solution following bad blood that has emerged between the two parties.
The decision was arrived at after Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu addressed the vendors in Limbe, Blantyre, Wednesday.
On Tuesday, chaotic scenes marred business activities in the populous trading centre as irate vendors clashed with police, who were called to duty to bring sanity when some of the vendors engaged in running battled with BCC rangers.
Kunkuyu, who was accompanied by police officers and arrived there in a self-driven vehicle, engaged the vendors on the issue of designated marketplaces.
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He, however, told them that they would be allowed to be plying their trade in undesignated places until the issues that have created animosity are resolved.
“There was an agreement between the two parties [BCC and vendors] and, in keeping with terms of the agreement, there was a need for periodic communication so that both parties could be on the same page when it comes to the time of implementation.
“That caused some slight misunderstandings but, now, both parties will, from Tuesday, engage in talks so that they come up with best solutions to deal with the issue,” Kunkuyu said.
The minister also expressed concern that politics seems to be at play on the issue, claiming that some officials at the city council just want to create unnecessary tension.
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Chairperson for small-scale traders in Limbe, Onitala Mawotchi, said they are hopeful that the issue would be resolved for the mutual benefit of all parties.
“We do not have big capital to own shops and that is why we opt for street vending. So, our plea to the authorities is that they should not be harsh on us but, rather, engage us. As such, we expect the forthcoming meeting to bear fruits,” he said.
Limbe Police Station Officer-in-Charge Gladson Chipumphula assured vendors and buyers that they would provide maximum security to those who operate in the area.
