Communities in selected districts where modern markets are being constructed say they are now hopeful that the new infrastructure will be completed within set times due to uninterrupted construction works at all sites.
Several months ago, Malawi President Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika, in his State of Nation Address, promised to construct modern markets in Chitipa, Mzuzu, Nkhatabay, Lilongwe, Chimbiya, Blantyre and Thyolo districts.
Immediately after President Mutharika delivered the Sona, Local government ministry officially launched construction of the modern markets, with a bold promise that they would be ready for use within a two year period.
The structures under construction are Mkondezi Market in Nkhata Bay, Chimbiya Priority Market in Dedza, Limbe Produce Main Market in Blantyre, Thyolo Priority Market, Kapoka Market in Chitipa, Mzuzu Modern Market and Lilongwe City Market
Market leaders and members of the community in some of these catchment areas see the nonstop works as encouraging.
“When President Mutharika promised us a modern markets many of us thought it was just a gimmick to give us hope. We have been proved wrong because just within months the new market structure is taking shape,” says Kalinga Mtonga who plies his trade at the old market in Mkondezi.
He adds that the project has injected many positive outcomes for people living in the area.
“Artisans from within the community have been hired to practice what they know and earn a decent pay at the same time. So too and a horde of youths have been employed at the site. In the end everyone is benefitting through work and business opportunity through supplying all sorts of merchandise.”
The story is similar across the board as works have commenced in all sites.
These are signature projects by the administration of President Mutharika to establish robust local market systems.
The market facilities are being constructed with financial partnership from International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) under the Transforming Agriculture Through Diversification and Entrepreneurship (Trade) and OPEC Fund to the combined amount of K84 Billion.
