Malawi’s Vice President Everton Chimulirenji on Thursday assured victims of the inferno that gutted down part of Blantyre market of full Government support, after touring the charred section of the market and interacting with the vendors.
The Veep said President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika was “deeply saddened with the loss of merchandise and knows its effects on their households.”
“I have been delegated to convey a message from President Mutharika. As President for all Malawians he says he will not leave you alone, as you grieve for the lost merchandise he grieves with you,” he said.
The VP added: “This is the more reason we have come with officials from Malawi Enterprise Development Fund (Medef) to assess the impact of the financial loss and to appraise those who can get soft loans from the organisation to restart their businesses.”
The fire coincides with a statement released by government earlier this month alleging that HRDC and opposition members were planning to torch markets in the country.
The Vice President said it is the wish of the Mutharika administration that Malawians should be economically self reliant hence Government’s prompt intervention to the fire accident.
He said: “The current administration under the leadership of President Mutharika seeks to ensure that the citizenry is self reliant economically. For this reason we will come again to monitor the impact of the support you will receive.”
Chimulirenji disclosed that Government will provide 200 bags of rice to the 120 victims of the fire accident.
Blantyre City Council is yet to establish the total loss of merchandise and part of the market infrastructure.
Representatives of the vendors Konley Kamnonyere said vending brings food on their table and the damage caused by fire has left them devasatated.
