MCP promises better markets—Msowoya

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has bemoaned poor standards of market structures in Malawi, saying the poor standards contribute to heavy loss of property in times of fire.

Speaking on Saturday during the party’s tour of markets in Mzuzu, MCP presidential running mate Richard Msowoya said the markets are too congested and materials used for building shops are not recommended materials, a development that sees shops being razed down when one shop catches fire.

He said most shops in the markets are constructed using wood instead of bricks. He said wood easily catches fire.

“It is painful to see that from time to time our markets are on fire. People lose a lot of items and money in the fires. Why is it that it is in Malawi where fires usually gut markets while in other countries you rarely here of such incidents?” questioned Msowoya.

He said if MCP is voted into power on May 20, it will ensure that shops in the market are constructed using bricks.

He said the markets will also have wide passages to ensure rapid response in cases of fire. He said narrow passages and congestion obstruct rapid response as firefighters fail to go through.

Msowoya also said the MCP government will be compensating people on time in cases where fire has gutted markets to ensure that they sustain their businesses.

Msowoya also donated K200 000 to vendors who lost their businesses in the fire that gutted Mzuzu market.