Lilongwe vendors in waiting mode

Keep talking, we will decide later. That is the message most vendors in the streets of Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, gave their associations on Monday.

This effectively puts to test Sunday’s ultimatum by the associations, the city council and the police for the vendors to return to designated areas within seven days.

On the other hand, touts—who were ordered out of bus terminals—had completely disappeared from the Lilongwe Bus Depot and other transport points in town as of Monday.

The Lilongwe City Council said it is closely observing the situation as it has given a chance to leaders of the vendors to lead the process before the authorities can come in.

Lilongwe Vendors Association chairperson Steven Malunga said some vendors started returning to designated market points.

Said Malunga: “Some have moved back into the markets, others came to understand what we meant, so there is progress. Others hear only when they are beaten. What we are saying is that thugs and thieves who want to rob people, pretending to be vendors, will remain in the streets. Real vendors will return to the markets.”

While other major streets had only soft drinks, boiled eggs, fruits, airtime and hot-dog mobile sellers, the main market street of Malangalanga Road was the worst with all sorts of wares—from underwear, shoes, plastic containers, boiled groundnuts and groceries—being sold in the usual manner.

There was a brief police presence, with mostly general duties officers patrolling the streets and about 10 mobile service officers, one of whom was armed with a gun at the entrance of the Malangalanga Road.

“Ask those who made the announcement to keep talking. We might see what happens after seven days,” said a mango seller who gave his name only as Matthews, while touts who grouped near Bwaila Hospital asked government to create jobs or they will be in the streets until they find new means of livelihood.

Lilongwe City Council spokesperson Tamara Chafunya said it was too early to talk of defiance by the vendors as they have seven days to move.

In recent weeks, Lilongwe has been a hot-spot with clashes involving vendors on one hand and the police and city council authorities on the other. The bone of contention has been trading places for vendors, with some doing business outside designated places, claiming President Bingu wa Mutharika told them to freely trade from any place of their choice. However, city authorities are on record to have said the vendors might have quoted the President out of context.