By Cathy Maulidi, Jimmy Chazama & Pemphero Malimba:
Vendors selling second-hand clothes in Lilongwe took to the streets Tuesday in a march that ended with a meeting, which ultimately resulted in an agreement for wholesalers to reduce their prices.
The march began at around 9am from Lilongwe Flea Market and made its way to Parliament Building.
The vendors carried placards protesting the rising cost of second-hand clothes, which they purchase in bulk from wholesalers.
For example, they complained that the price of a bale of children’s clothes had risen from K800,000 to K1.4 million.
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Industries, Trade and Finance, Paul Nkhoma, had planned to receive a petition from the vendors but said he would forward it to the relevant authorities.
This did not satisfy the vendors, who insisted they wanted immediate answers, not just a petition submission.
As a result, government ministers, led by Local Government Minister Richard Chimwendo Banda, stepped forward to address the vendors.
Chimwendo Banda reassured the vendors that the government was committed to addressing the rising prices of goods and services in the country.
GWENGWE —That decision has now been reversed
Minister of Trade Sosten Gwengwe announced that the government had revoked the operating licences of second-hand clothes wholesalers and retailers and asked them to reapply.
“We understand the challenges vendors face and are meeting with the vendors’ committee to discuss solutions. Additionally, the government is ensuring that foreign currency, such as dollars, is made available to these businesses to resolve the issue,” Gwengwe said.
Blantyre City South East MP Sameer Suleman suggested forming a committee to visit vendors’ suppliers to ensure no one exploits the situation by inflating prices.
“We want swift action. The government should consider tripling the minimum wage to help Malawians afford basic goods. We also need to monitor shop owners to ensure they are not taking advantage of the situation,” Suleman said.
Deputy Secretary of the Small-Scale Cross-Border Association, Frank Mhango, expressed frustration over the lack of forex, which he claimed had hindered their ability to import goods.
“We have spoken to government officials, but we are not receiving any support,” he said before the meeting, which appeared to have resolved the concerns later in the evening.
After a long day of negotiations, a consensus was reached between the vendors, second-hand clothes wholesalers and the government.
Habib Ali, a representative of the wholesalers, confirmed they were willing to reduce prices if the government provided them with forex.
“The minister, with an official from the Reserve Bank of Malawi [RBM] present, assured us that the government will provide foreign exchange at a favour
