By Isaac Salima:
There was pandemonium in Limbe, Blantyre, Tuesday when police officers engaged in running battles with vendors who were not pleased with Blantyre City Council (BCC) officials’ exercise of chasing them from vending in the streets.
The fracas started around 11am in the business and trade town when some vendors reacted angrily to BCC officials who were snatching merchandise from those who were selling in undesignated places.
The situation turned ugly when some of the vendors hit back and stoned a BCC vehicle that carried officials.
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Police were then called to control the situation and fired teargas to disperse the vendors.
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Business came to a standstill as the law enforcers chased everyone in their sight, forcing shop owners to close early.
One of the vendors, Alick Mauno, said that the business doers were not pleased with council officials for chasing them from the streets.
“Things are not going on well in this country, so let us be fair to each other. Why should we be chased from the streets? Where should we go to do our business?” Mauno said.
Another vendor Richard Mwenecho blamed the police for how they reacted.
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“The police could have done better by controlling the situation calmly. Why should they fire teargas? This has disturbed business. Now shops are closed and people will not do business,” he said.
The vendors argue that they resort to plying their trade in the streets because the designated locations do not have space to accommodate everyone.
Limbe Police Station publicist Aubrey Singanyama said the men in uniform handled the situation well.
“We were called to calm the situation and now everything is back to normal. No arrests have been made and we are investigating what caused the pandemonium,” Singanyama said
