Security tight at Mwanjelwa Market
What you need to know:
Police tighten security outside Mwanjelwa Main Market in the City of Mbeya as some traders were protesting removal from the market.
Mbeya. Police have tighten security outside Mwanjelwa Main Market in the City of Mbeya after some traders allegedly wanted to cause chaos, opposing their removal from the market.
In the morning, the traders, who have erected their business stalls inside the fence of the market, did not open their businesses and their plans to resist the removal were controlled by the police.
Mbeya Regional Police Commander Ulrich Matei said his officers arrived in the area and ramped up security so that people could continue with their daily activities.
"Police are here to ensure security is maintained and traders open their shops. There are only a few of them who want to cause chaos. The construction of the modern market has cost a lot of money. So, some traders don’t want to do business inside the market and instead they prefer selling their items outside it,” he said.
“We have to continue providing education to them on this matter. We want them to do their business freely, but we will control those, who want to cause trouble. We want Mbeya to be a place where everyone will feel safe to do their businesses.”
Last Saturday, Mbeya Regional Commissioner Albert Chalamila visited Mwanjelwa Market and ordered the protesting traders to dismantle their business stalls by Friday this week and do their business inside the market.
Mr Chalamila explained that after the expiry of the order they would use force to remove them, disclosing that a contract on the business stalls had already expired and that the traders were not allowed to continue with their activities outside the market.
