Business operators who lost property in a fire that gutted a make-shift market adjacent to Ndirande Main Market in Blantyre, can now afford a smile as government through Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture has promised to provide soft loans for the victims.
Speaking when he visited the market on Tuesday afternoon to appreciate the extent of damage, minister responsible, Richard Chimwendo Banda said the government will do its best to provide soft loans through National Economic Empowerment Fund Limited (NEEF) as soon as possible.
“Government is touched by the loss of property of these vendors. Going forward we need to bail them so that they can recover and be able to assist their families. This is the only way to console the affected vendors.
“We are told the City Council took a long time to respond to this tragedy but vendors should feel that the government is equally concerned and we know they are undergoing a difficult patch, hence we feel provision of soft loans can help in some way,” he said.
Ndirande Market vice-chairperson Ernest Bwanali said the fire destroyed 11 shops which also hosted a number of businesses.
Bwanali thanked the government for the gesture, saying the fire incident left the vendors with nothing to do.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of various fire incidents that damaged goods worth millions of Kwachas.
During the visit in Ndirande, Banda was accompanied by his deputy Owen Chomanika.
By Tikondane Vega
