Blantyre City Council is moving against illegal car sales and car wash businesses operating in undesignated areas.
Mayor Isaac Jomo Osman has warned that the council will arrest people found conducting such businesses outside approved areas.
Osman was reacting after the group calling themselves Concerned Citizens of Malawi–People Power Movement asked the Blantyre City Council to clarify the legal basis for confiscating property belonging to young people operating car wash businesses around Njamba Freedom Park.
The development has attracted criticism from the group, with its Chairperson, Edward Kambanje, questioning the council’s decision to confiscate the young people’s business materials.
Kambanje said the action had affected the livelihoods of young people who depend on the car wash businesses for their income, and called on the council to provide clarity on the legal basis for the confiscation.
However, Osman, speaking during a Facebook Live session, said the council’s action was not aimed at stopping young people from doing business, but at maintaining cleanliness and order in the city by ensuring that businesses are conducted in designated areas.
“Anyone found selling cars or operating a car wash business in restricted areas will be arrested. In Blantyre, that will not happen,” said Osman.
He said the council will continue enforcing its regulations and warned that anyone found operating car wash businesses or selling cars in restricted areas will face arrest.