By Chimwemwe Misomali:
Imagine your spouse asking you to bring grocery items to the household. You are working late and leaving the office shortly before 8pm.
As you enter Blantyre Central Business District (CBD) to purchase the items, you are greeted by the sight of huge chains and padlocks securing the entrance to almost all the shops except a few pharmacies and fast-food joints.
The once-busy streets of the city are entirely deserted, if not for a few taxis, some call boys and street kids who, on a bad day, would turn into thugs.
- Advertisement -
Disappointed, you proceed home empty handed.
- Advertisement -
This early closure of business premises is not just an inconvenience for late-night shoppers but a broader issue affecting the city’s economic landscape and residents’ quality of life.
Paradoxically, Malawian cities also wake up late.
A Times Business snap survey found that most shops in major cities open by 9am. This reduces the time for trading for both businesses and patrons.
In contrast, people in cities in other countries such as Dar es Salam in Tanzania and Johannesburg in South Africa wake up very early in the morning and go to sleep very late at night. In more advanced economies such as the United States and China, cities do not go to sleep at all.
- Advertisement -
Isaac and Amon Kaponda are brothers but run different businesses in Blantyre.
Isaac has a phone accessories shop inside the Blantyre Flea Market while Amon sells electronic gadgets such as television sets and laptops in one of the shops in Blantyre CBD.
They both lament the trend but pins down the problem on Malawi’s culture and security lapses in the CBD.
Amon believes that Malawi’s city life revolves around an employment culture where people trek to the cities targeting 7:30am or 8am as time for starting work and knocking off at around 17:00PM.
Isaac holds that even if one has customers and would want to work late, the city fathers who ran the market close it at 6pm, which signals that both buyers and sellers exit the cities.
He went on to say security lapses, where some street kids attack pedestrians, have made the CBD unattractive at night for buyers, especially those who use public transport.
“It is difficult to extend working hours for us, traders, because there is no one to buy from us. The setup of our cities is such that residential areas are outside the CBD, unlike other cities elsewhere, as people stay right in the city and, therefore, life goes on until late,” Kaponda said.
Another entrepreneur running a retail shop, Yamikani Bakuwa, said the trend limits business opportunities.
“The early closure of shops restricts our ability to serve customers and expand our business. Changing people’s mindsets about the benefits of ibrant night business time is crucial,” Bakuwa said.
Mtisunge Nkuse, a resident of Ndirande, collaborated the fears of being attacked by street kids within the CBD at night.
“In other countries, businesses run 24/7, but in Malawi mega grocery shops are closed by the time people finish work. The government needs to improve security, install more street lights and cameras, and invest in night public transport as street kids pose a significant threat to people,” Nkuse said.
Catholic University of Malawi-based business and entrepreneurship expert Ferdinand Mchacha said the short business operating hours translate in reduced daily average productivity, which also reflects on the country’s gross domestic product.
“We need to change our mindset at country, individual and household level. We must stop looking for support from donors or elsewhere and use our resources to get returns out of it. This will boost our productivity. We know what to do. what is lacking is to put our mind to productivity,” Mchacha said.
Chief Executive Officer for Blantyre City Council, Dennis Chinseu, also acknowledges the challenges.
“Our role is to provide a conducive environment for business operations. It is crucial for all stakeholders to evaluate their roles and contributions. The lack of personal transportation for nighttime travel highlights the need for night shift public transport services,” Chinseu said.
He noted that while the issue of street kids has become more pronounced in recent years, the trend of early shop closures has been a long-standing problem.
“What we need is a thorough assessment of the system to identify and address shortcomings. This includes exploring businesses willingness to extend operating hours and compensating employees for overtime. Furthermore, there is a need for improved security in both shopping centers and residential areas,” he added.
The early closure of shops in the cities raises an important question about the approach to nighttime economic activity and safety.
As the cities continue to grapple with these issues, the need for government action, business adjustments and community mindset shifts become increasingly clear.
The challenge is striking a balance that ensures safety while fostering a dynamic and profitable nighttime economy.
