Police arrests 4 robbery suspects

Malawi President Joyce Banda has directed the Ministry of Local Government and Lilongwe City Council to provide vendors with an office where they should be transacting their office work.

The directive comes after vendors on Thursday met Banda at the New State House in Lilongwe where, among other issues, they asked for more business space and training.

Minister of Local Government Grace Maseko, who attended the meeting that was held in camera, said in an interview the vendors wanted to tell the President their plans.

“This is the second time Lilongwe vendors are having an audience with the President. The issues they brought to the Malawi leader included the need for vendors to be considered for business training and to be empowered through provision of loans and other business services.

“The President has responded positively to their plea and she has tasked my ministry together with the city council to have their associations registered and have an office where they should be transacting their office work,” said Maseko.

Chairperson of the association, James Yerayera Soko, said upon fulfilling government’s wish of stopping illegal vending in the city, they wanted to brief the President on the matter.—Mana