By Justice Katema

Scrap Metal Dealers Association of Malawi has asked the Ministry of Trade and Industry to lift a ban that prohibits them from selling scrap metals outside the country.

The ban was imposed to the scrap metal dealers following allegations that their operations were fueling acts of vandalism on public property belonging to Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) and water boards.

Chairperson for the association, Jonathan Patrick, told YFM Online that after working with police to investigate the cause of the vandalism, scrap mental dealers have been vindicated hence, they want government to lift the ban.

The Association after undergoing an intense investigation in collaboration with Malawi Police, ESCOM and water boards found out that scrap metal dealers are not the cause of vandalism on property belonging to ESCOM and Waterboard.

Due to this the association has appealed to government to lift the ban in order to allow the dealers to continue plying their trade outside of the country’s borders.

Patrick explained that the ban has crippled their businesses because they operate from loans provided by their purchasers of which they are having difficulty paying back which has led to some traders to lose their international markets.