The main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President Lazarus Chakwera has emphasized the need for traders to insure their goods and properties. He says this will cushion losses and damages caused by fires in markets across the nation.
This call comes as Area 18 market, in the capital Lilongwe was mysteriously been gutted down by fire on Thursday, September 17 around 20:00 hours due to an electrical fault which developed in one of the hardware shops.
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Over 500 vendors have lost goods and properties worthy MK100 million according to records sourced from the market’s chairperson, Bernard Gama who calls for support from well-wishers to come to their rescue as nothing has been left by the flames.
“We left the market earlier something around 7 pm due to blackout, thus upon electricity resumption which came forcefully causing electrical sparks in one of the hardware shops and it went up in flames. The fire extinguishers came in an hour later when all the
market was completely engulfed with fire.
“All goods, properties that were in the market have been gutted by fire and nothing has been left for anyone to rely on. Although, Escom officials tried to disconnect power lines in the market didn’t yield nothing. This is the reason we are calling for support from
well-wishers to come to our rescue as life will be unbearable”, appeals Gama.
Speaking to The Maravi Post after touring the market on Friday afternoon, September 18, 2015, MCP President Chakwera expressed sadness over loss of properties and goods vendors due to the fire saying the party would assist them to caution the damage.
Dr Chakwera however emphasized the need for commercial insurance companies allowing business persons in market to insure their goods as the case with other group of people who get the same services.
“Cases of fire gutting markets are rife these days. As the nation, we need to do something especially on the part of insurance companies by allowing vendors to ensure their properties in a bid to caution damages like of this nature.
“This will be possible if the country’s parliament put deliberate laws of enforcing insurance companies to allow vendors in markets accessing insurance services like the same way vehicle owners do. Therefore, after, we have assessed the damage, the party will come back with something to sooth the affected retailers”, pledges MCP leader.
Recently, countries major cities markets including Mzuzu, Lilongwe and Kasungu have been ambushed with mysterious fires, a development that has attracted speculation from the general public that it’s a deliberately caused by contractors connected to government for business and corruption reasons with government officials.
Despite, markets being gutted with mysterious fires nobody so far has been arrested in such incidences as government is forced to help traders with construction of markets and paying huge millions of money which could be used for buying medical equipment and drugs in public hospitals
