Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Kasungu Central Constituency Amon Nkhata on Wednesday, October 7 donated 200 bags of cement worthy MK1.5 million in a bid to renovate the Kasungu central market which was razed down by fire on midnight of Friday, October, 2015.
The fire comes barely two weeks after another part of the same market was gutted down as the current blaze is suspected to have started by an electrical fault in one of the market’s shop.
Over thousands vendor lost goods and properties worthy MK1billion according to records sourced from both Municipal Council’s Spokesperson and Deputy Mayor Martin Kadyakapita and Ephate Joshua respectively saying were compiling a report that will be submitted to government for an appropriate action towards the victims.
On Monday, October 5, 2015 the full Municipality council resolved that all vendors should erect brick structures as one of way of discouraging makeshift buildings that catch fire.
This prompted MP Nkhata for the area responding to the request by bestowing bags of cement as part of the initiative wanted to bankroll towards the construction of the new market.
In an exclusive interview with The Maravi Post after donating the cement to the affected vendors, Nkhata emphasized the new for the Municipality to have a new market which will respond to the social-economic activities’ growth of the area.
“The donation is part of infrastructure development towards having a new market that will respond to the growth of the Municipality. Upon proper use of cement made available to affected vendors, plans are underway to sources some funds for iron sheet for the completion of structures.
“Although efforts are on the way to alleviate vendors’ challenges caused by fire, more support is still needed for back up capital towards the resumption of their businesses. This is the reason, I am appealing to well-wishers to come vendors’ rescue with the financial support for them to resume their business as the fire left them with nothing”, appeals Nkhata.
Speaking after receiving the donation, Barnet Sanudi, Kasungu Central Market Chairperson applauded the gesture their legislator demonstrated towards the suffering vendors due to the inferno, appealing more well-wishers to emulate on what the law maker has done.
“This is how the demonstration of the good leader towards responding the suffering of his people. Any donation which comes on our way will be used for its intended purposes. We have accepted the calamity so any sensible individual can’t misuse resources to be provided to us.
“It’s my appeal as to well-wishers to come to our rescue with any financial and material support towards our recovery as the Member of Parliament and the council alone can’t manage to reach all affected vendors”, urges Sanudi.
Recently, countries major cities markets including Mzuzu, Lilongwe , Area 18 (Lilongwe) 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
