Chikwawa citizens express concern about poor waste management at Dyeratu market

Malawi: Concerned citizens in Chikwawa have expressed their concern about poor waste management at the Dyeratu market, which has reduced their profits because customers are not buying their products, particularly those selling food, due to the bad odour produced by the waste.

AfricaBrief visit to the market discovered that people at Dyeratu Market dispose of their wastes wherever they want, so the district council never provided them with waste disposal bins.

Innocent Mawoko, a fried chips seller at the market, expressed his concern: "People at the market dispose of their wastes behind his business place, and the bad odour produced by the wastes has negatively affected his business."

"People are not buying his business, which has reduced his profits, and he has no idea why Chikwawa District Council is so bad at waste management."

"It is true that waste management is now a huge challenge at Dyeratu market, people are disposing of waste wherever they want," said Yamikani Brahim, Dyeratu Market Chairperson.

Brahim continued that they brought the need for bins at the market to the attention of the Chikwawa District Council, but they were ignored.

Brahim has called on the Chikwawa District Council, non-governmental organisations, companies, and other stakeholders to come, assist them, and provide them with bins at the market, as the situation at the market is unhealthy, and the people of Dyeratu pay taxes to the District Council every day, and they deserve a better business environment.

Meanwhile, Aubrey Masanza, Chairperson of the Chikwawa District Council, stated: “The District Council is aware of the need for a dumpsite at Dyelatu Market. Currently, the district has no dumpsite but discussions are underway with the chiefs to provide them with a place away from people's residencies and as soon as the discussions are over the District Council will announce to the public the dump site for Dyeratu Market where people will be disposing their garbage."

Chikwawa District Council established Dyeratu Market in 1998, and it is now one of the Lowershire Valley's fastest-growing trading centres.