Chakwera describes vendors as integral section in development

By Kondanani Chilimunthaka

Over 600 vendors from within the commercial city of Blantyre in the township markets like Blantyre market, Ndirande, Chirimba, Zingwangwa, Mbayani, Limbe, Chemusa, Makhetha, Kachere, Machinjiri, Chilobwe, Chimwankhunda, Ngumbe, Chilomoni, Chadzunda, Lunzu, and Bangwe among others met the President Dr Lazarus Chakwera at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre.

Addressing the contingent of vendors and merchants, President Chakwera described them as an integral section towards realizing vision 2063 of having a self-reliant Malawi, assuring them of his administration’s commitment to implement a business-friendly environment with policies that are aimed at building the capacity for Small Scale businesses in the country.

President Chakwera then called upon the vendors to effectively contribute to the country’s long-term vision of Malawi 2063 while sympathizing with them for being slapped harshly with Covid-19, Cyclone Freddy, and Cholera outbreak.

“In the face of all the calamities, my administration remains committed to ensure that you rise stronger. You have already shown resilience and we are here to support you with opportunities such as the government contracts” Said President Chakwera.

Speaking earlier, Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture, Richard Chimwendo Banda thanked the President for sparing his time from his busy schedule to interact with these Small Scale business operators from within the commercial city.

During the interface meeting hosted by President Chakwera, a representative from the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) assured these business operators that the organization is ready to provide business loans once they have followed the due processes for acquiring loans from NEEF.

The group consisted of car dealers, tailors, minibus operators, callboys, timber traders, barbershop operators, hair salon owners, as well as consumables and non-consumable merchants among others.