Mzuzu City, traders sign pact

Mzuzu City Council on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Malawi Union for the Informal Sector(Mufis) to improve working relationship between the two parties.

In the MoU, signed at Mphatso Motel in the city, Mufis has pledged to act as a bridge between  Mzuzu City Council and the informal sector.

In his speech, Mufis president Ken Williams Mhango said the informal sector is critical in economic development of the country.

He called upon other cities in the country to emulate Mzuzu City.

“We have been to all the cities in the country from 2019 to have an MoU, however, only Mzuzu agreed to have this MoU signed,” said Mhango.

Mzuzu City deputy mayor Gift Nyirenda noted that the informal sector is creating employment through various investments in the city.

He said: “The informal sector has for long been neglected in some crucial decision-making fora, a thing which somehow affected their perception and understanding of some issues including boycotting of market fees payment, market spaces, illegal vending, waste management and general understanding of a market.”

Nyirenda said the MoU has touched on the welfare of its partners, infrastructure development of markets, revenue management and service provision.

Recently, there have been conflicts between Mzuzu City officials and vendors over trading in undesignated areas.

Vigwagwa Market Vendors chairperson Maulana Gerald said vendors in the city are struggling due to lack of space which is fuelling illegal vending.

“We are hoping that the MoU will help in addressing some of these issues,” he said.