Tropical Cyclone Freddy Causes Flooding in Bangula Old Market, Leaving Businessmen Stranded

Malawi-More than 200 businessmen who operate in the Bangula Old Market in Nsanje, Malawi, are stranded after the market was covered in water due to non-stop rainfall caused by Tropical Cyclone Freddy, writes Cornelius Lupenga.

Tapiya Atima, the chairperson for the market, said that he is one of the victims and all his properties have been flooded.

He added that most of the vendors have already removed three-quarters of their properties.

"The floods came at night when all of us were asleep in our respective homes," Atima said.

Paul Thikiti, one of the businessmen in the market, said that he received a call from a vendor who tipped him off about the situation.

Thikiti managed to evacuate most of his properties from the shop and is now asking the authorities to consider replicating them as they are the victims of floods every year.

Hackeem Abudal Hassan, a councillor for Mlonda Ward in the Malawi Congress Party, is also a victim of the cyclone's effects.

He alleged that people who were already relocated to the new market site are reluctant to operate in the proposed site because there is no business.

The Bangula Old Market has been severely affected by the flooding, leaving the businessmen who ply various businesses in the market in a state of despair.