Mzuzu City Council Struggles to Curb Illegal Vending Amid Population Growth
The situation highlights the complex challenges facing urban planners in balancing economic opportunities with orderly city development in rapidly growing Malawian cities.
MZUZU, Malawi— Mzuzu City Council (MCC) is grappling with the challenge of illegal vending as the city's rapid population growth turns many corners into impromptu marketplaces, writes Maranatha Chirwa, MANA.
MacDonald Gondwe, MCC Public Relations Officer, attributes the problem to Mzuzu's high population growth rate compared to other Malawian cities.
This growth has led to an increase in people starting businesses for their livelihoods.
Despite the establishment of Mzuzu Main Market and the newer Zigwagwa and Katawa Markets, these designated spaces remain underutilized.
Gondwe said, "We are currently strategizing on how we can address the situation after several failed attempts."
The council faces a dilemma between enforcing laws that mandate confiscation of goods and prosecution, and maintaining a humanitarian approach through dialogue with vendors.
Esther Longwe, a vendor in Mzuzu City Main Market, expressed frustration that customers often prefer buying from illegal vendors outside the market.
"We have been pleading with the city council for years to relocate these vendors to designated markets for fair business operations," Longwe said.
However, some illegal vendors like Benedetta Msowoya argue that designated markets are unsuitable for business. Daniel Msongole, a fruit vendor, cited a lack of favorable alternatives as his reason for selling in undesignated areas.
Alexander Sikwese, Chairperson for Mzuzu City Main Market, noted that efforts by both the council and market committee to address the issue have not yielded tangible results.
The situation highlights the complex challenges facing urban planners in balancing economic opportunities with orderly city development in rapidly growing Malawian cities.