Business came to a standstill in the country’s major cities of Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Zomba as Malawians observed a public holiday to bury Vice President Saulos Chilima on Monday.
Chilima died in a plane crash on June 10 2024 and was laid to rest yesterday at his home village, Nsipe, in Ntcheu District.
Government declared Monday, June 17 2024, a public holiday to allow Malawians pay their last respects to Chilima during his burial.
Snap checks by Times Business found that most streets in the country’s major cities were deserted. Some mega shops were closed on the day.
In an interview, an electrical supplies shop owner from Blantyre Aitken Jack Williams said business slowed by over 70 percent.
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“At this hour, we have only managed less than 30 percent of the business we enjoy on a normal Monday. This holiday has really slowed down business but it does not worry us as business operators because Chilima really deserved such respect,” Williams said.
Another business operator, mobile money agent Kingsley Chiwaula, said, at midday, he had earned commissions just above K1, 000 whereas in a normal day he would make over K8, 000 by midday.
The situation was similar in Zomba, where most shops were seen closed and not many buyers seen loitering the streets.
Zomba Central Market vice Chair Feston Kachepa said the slowdown in business has equally been stirred by Eid celebrations.
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“You are aware that Muslims are celebrating Eid. At the same time, we are celebrating the life of the late Chilima and it is a holiday today (Monday). These two things have made many people to stay indoors, thereby reducing the flow of business,” Kachepa said.
Another entrepreneur who is managing director of Fredricks Natural Honey in Lilongwe, Fredrick Mattress, said business was down by 95 percent in Lilongwe.
“There are no people in town; to be honest, a lot of people have been emotionally affected by Chilima’s death and, with the public holiday many have stayed in-door to follow proceedings on TV. Most of the shops are closed and not many people are seen in town,” Mattress said.
Similarly, in Mzuzu most shop owners did not open for business on Monday and few consumers were seen in the streets.
For example, one of the mega shops in the city, Madina, was found closed on the day.
Traders selling day-to-day consumables such as relish and maize were the ones found trading in a few corners of the city.
