Vendors at Mpondabwino Market in Zomba have complained that they are at risk of contracting cholera due to lack of running water at the market.

A visit by YFM on Monday discovered that the market has been operating without running water for more than four months now.

Vendors selling food and vegetables were seen using untreated water from a nearby river to wash their utensils.

Some visibly angry vendors complained that despite paying the market fee on daily basis, their welfare and that of their customers is in danger because the only source of water is the nearby river.

YFM has so far discovered that Southern Region Water Board disconnected water at the market due to unpaid bills amounting to K4.5million.

Zomba City Council Public Relations Officer, Mercy Chaluma, admitted that they are aware of the problem.

“Indeed the problem has been there for some month ago because the council has not yet paid money to the Southern Region Water Board,” Chaluma said.

She suggested that vendors at the market allow other surrounding residents to access water from the market a situation which greatly contributed to the accumulative water bills.

Chaluma assured the vendors that running water will be reconnected by the end of this month.