Government has suspended the chasing of vendors along the cities’ streets due to the current political situation, citing “the current political situation”, as written in a letter addressed to all Chief Executive Officers and District Commissioners.

Secretary for Local Government and Rural Development Charles Kalemba says in a letter issued on Tuesday says the minister has directed that the exercise be put on hold.

In Limbe, the relocation of vendors was being undertaken when the vendors resisted the relocation to markets, leading to vandalism of some shops where some people looted property. The letter followed after the incident in Limbe on Tuesday afternoon.

Prior to the letter by Kalemba, the Lilongwe City Council (LCC) announced that it would start removing vendors from the streets, starting 30th September. According to the council’s, post on Facebook, it would confiscate goods from vendors found in undesignated places in order to encourage the vendors to move to established markets and promote cleanliness and order in the capital city.