Zomba Main Market vendors have warned of unspecified action if Zomba City Council (ZCC) fails to rectify some challenges in the market by November 30, 2019.

In a letter which YFM has seen, among other issues the council’s chief executive officer, commits to electrify the central market shades, sort out issues of water bills, replace the waste bunker with a skipper and relocate the tax rank which is currently located just near the market entrance.

Reads part of the memorandum: “Following the discussion with the central market committee on issues in which Zomba City Council is required to resolve in central market, the council hereby commits itself to solve such issues.”

The document was also copied to the council’s directors of finance, engineering and health services.

Zomba Main Market chairperson, Innocent Chikhawula bemoaned that the challenges that were presented to the council have been there for a long period time and are exposing both the market and the vendors to security and health risks.

Chikhawula said: “The council has been neglecting to resolve these challenges for a long period of time until a few weeks ago when the vendors resorted to boycott paying daily market fees for two weeks and that’s when the city officials came and we signed a memorandum of understanding that they will resolve some of the challenges at a given period of time and we are just waiting for the expiry of the ultimatum.”

He further bemoaned that bad smell produced by a tunnel which passes through the market carrying wastes from the shops in the city which he described as a health hazard.

When asked on the next action from the vendors if the council fails to meet the deadline, Chikhawula declined to disclose but said his committee will meet to discuss the next course of action.