‘DPP cadets threatened council against eviction’

Former ruling Democratic Progressove Party (DPP) youth cadets threatened Lilongwe City Council officials against evicting them from Kanengo Industrial Site where they allegedly set up illegal business structures, saying they were in government and nobody could remove them from the site, Nation Online has learnt.

This was revealed during a consultative meeting the council’s chief executive officer Kelvin M’mangisa held with land and property owners in Lilongwe on Saturday.

“As registered businesses in Kanengo, we are worried because the council is not protecting us from those running similar businesses illegally at the site. There are several restaurants and other businesses operating illegally at Kanengo.

“When the council wanted to chase them early this year, they all wore DPP T-shirts and went to the council’s offices to threaten officials against the eviction,” lamented one businessperson who refused to be identified for fear of reprisals.

M’mangisa said it was sad that such threats were issued. He said the council will investigate the matter and remove those found running businesses without permission at the industrial site.

He, however, admitted that dealing with illegal business operators and vendors becomes difficulty when the issue turns political.