Bicycle taxi operators in Mzuzu city engaged in running battles with the police on Wednesday in protest to a ban of their business by city council authorities.

Our correspondent in the city said the operators are throwing stones at the police and burning tyres to show their anger.

Heavily armed police officers were deployed in the city to contain the situation, which led to closure of business.

The ban according to city council authorities is aimed at minimizing crime in the city especially during the night.

But the protestor are against the ban saying it is the only way they earn a living.

“If the government wants us to stop our business then they should employ us so that we should be able to sustain ourselves. They can’t stop us to do our business when they don’t give us any alternative source of income,” said one of the protestors.

This comes as the government is also removing vendors from the streets to designated places across the country.