Small and medium business operators in Lilongwe have saluted President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera for demonstrating to be a true democrat and practicing civilized politics.
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The vendors observed that President Chakwera had departed from politics of castigation and murder of critics, which were phenomenal during the United Democratic Front (UDF) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) regimes.
Apparently, during the UDF and DPP regimes, critics were either executed or had their houses petrol-bombed by Young Democrats (YDs) [during the UDF era] or cadets [during the DPP administration].
In Mzuzu, for instance, the DPP administration ordered the killing of over 20 young people who were holding peaceful protests in the Northern City.
The youths were protesting against the dictatorial tendencies former president Bingu wa Mutharika had demonstrated during his second term.
And under the Arthur Peter Mutharika administration, those holding contrary views had their houses petrol-bombed. The Tambala family in Area 24 in Lilongwe is a good example of the innocent Malawians that suffered heinous acts of the APM government.
It is against this background that vendors saluted President Chakwera for not directing the murder of or assault on Malawians who chooses to disagree with him.
“Out of all the past presidents we have had in Malawi, you are the only one that practices civilized politics and not politics of castigation. Please keep it,” said one vendor representative a Mr Kachibekete.
Kachibekete asked the president to consider talking to Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) to adjust down duty charged on imported goods.
He thanked the president for the gates of State House allowing them to come and voice out their concerns.
Taking her turn, Hardware Representative Doreen Jere asked the president to control some foreign vendors who are monopolizing business by engaging into both retail and wholesale trading.
“We are in stiff competition with foreign vendors because our friends have access to high capital unlike us,” emphasized Jere. “This is the reason local businesses are finding it tough to thrive.”
In his remarks, Minister of Local Government Richard Chimwendo Banda pleaded with Government to remove surity on loans to vendors from National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF).
He advised the vendors against engaging into violent demonstrations when they have disagreements.
“As vendors learn to love your country by protecting public property,” he said.
Responding to the vendors concerns, President Chakwera said he has taken note of all challenges that are being faced by the traders.
He told the vendors that his administration has introduced new business laws to help legislate Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) to ensure growth.
He said there is no country where its citizens pay no tax but the tax should be reasonable.
He advised the vendors to do their business only in designated places.
“We don’t have to waste our time chasing each other out of streets but rather spend our positive energy doing various businesses,” he said.
President Chakwera has since promised the vendors that he will arrange a follow up meeting with them to review on the issues presented.
