President Chakwera hails small scale businesses describing them as  drivers of the Malawi economy 

Malawi president Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera says his administration will stay on track in implementing business-friendly policies that are aimed at building the capacity of small scale businesses in the country.

He issued these assurances to a contingent of vendors and merchants from within Blantyre City who he hosted at Sanjika Palace on Thursday.

The President commiserated with vendors and traders for being frontline victims in the face of inconveniences such as Covid-19, Cyclone Freddy and the cholera outbreak.

“In the face of all these calamities my administration remains committed to ensure that you ruse stronger. You have already showed resilience and we are here to support you with opportunities such as government contracts,” he said.

The Malawi leader called upon the vendors to contribute effectively to the country’s long-term vision Malawi2063.

The vendors, over 600 in number, were drawn from among other city markets including Blantyre Main, Zingwangwa, Ndirande, Chirimba , Mbayani, Limbe, Chemusa, Kachere, Makhetha, Machinjiri, Chilobwe, Chimwankhunda, Ngumbe, Chilomoni, Lunzu, Chadzunda and Bangwe.

The gathering comprised among others, car dealers, tailors, minibuses and call boys, timber traders not forgetting consumable and non-consumable merchants.

All the groups were accorded an opportunity to present to the Malawi leader pertinent issues affecting their various trades.

Among some of the key interventions the Chakwera administration has brought forward is the National Economic Empowerment Fund (Neef) which has so far disbursed over K86 billion to about 158,000 businesses.

Speaking earlier, Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture – Richard Chimwendo Banda – thanked the President for sparing time from his busy schedule to interact with a constituency that drives trade within Blantyre City and surrounding areas.

Also speaking was a representative from NEEF who assured the vendors that once they follow all due processes, there is enough capital to drive growth of small businesses.