Ndirande Vendors Dispute Lockdown

President Peter Mutharika declared the 21 day lockdown President Peter Mutharika declared the 21 day lockdown - file photo

Vendors in Ndirande market in Blantyre have vowed not to close down the market as required by the national lockdown conditions.

Chairperson of the market, Chauncy Widon, says closing the market is like biting a finger that feeds them daily.

He says government would have enforced COVID-19 preventive measures instead of closing the markets.

“They are saying the lockdown begins this Saturday midnight but I, as a representative of these people, would like to tell them that these people have nowhere to get their daily bread apart from this market.

“I am sure they will understand and rescind the decision. We feel the lockdown will bite people more than the Corona virus itself. We would like to ask the cabinet committee to think twice and consider other markets as well because our mourning is the same,” he said.

Government spokesperson, Mark Botoman, has, however, pleaded with the people to understand the situation considering that Malawi is now registering local transmission cases of COVID-19.

“You will recall that one person who has tested COVID-19 positive in Blantyre did not travel outside the country. It is a local contact. All that government is doing is to protect people from the virus,” he said.

Government on Tuesday declared a 21 day lockdown in the country’s districts and cities from midnight this Saturday as a measure to stop the Corona virus from spreading further.

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