Mchinji business owners angry with Chinese counterparts

Mchinji small-scale business owners on Friday presented a petition to Mchinji District Council expressing their concerns over an alleged Chinese national’s business operations.

One businessperson, who asked for anonymity, said they were buying plastic goods and second hand clothes (Kaunjika) from the very Chinese businesspersons in Lilongwe who have opened shops in the villages.

He said:  “These Chinese businesspersons have killed our small-scale businesses. We were buying goods from them in Lilongwe, but they have followed us and opened their shops in our village.

“The profits we were getting after sales were used in supporting our poor families, but now we are earning nothing. We approached our village chief on the development who referred us to the district council.”

In the petition, the businesspersons have asked government to stop the Chinese from operating in villages, but in towns only.

They have vowed to do something bad if no action is taken.

The council’s human resource officer, Martin Chigumato, said he  received the petition, but asked for more time to consult relevant authorities. n