Zomba District Council has decided that taxi drivers who ply their business at Hardware Rank be moved to a New Free Market Road.
The city council’s Principal Administrative Officer, Davie Mlosa said the development comes following congestion caused by the taxi drivers which affect the traffic flow, thereby disturbing other businesses.
“The directive will start working on 5th June, 2018 for these Chinamwali-Three Miles taxi drivers to relocate to their designated area and anyone found operating at Hardware Rank will have his car impounded or pay fine,” warned Mlosa.
He said the directive had emanated from an audience the council had with some members of Drivers Association of Malawi based in Zomba who complained about traffic congestion at Hardware, saying the place is accident-prone and therefore placing lives of people at risk.
While agreeing with the council’s decision to change the taxi rank and urging it to fully enforce the directive, Chairperson for Chinamwali-Three Miles taxi drivers, Lenard Mizimbe complained that the development would affect their business.
He said it would take time for customers to know and get used to the new place because it is far from where they (customers) were used to (the Hardware Rank).
“I plead with the city council to put stiffer punishment to taxi drivers who will continue operating at Hardware Rank when the directive starts working so that business shall be favourable to everyone,” said Mizimbe.
One of the taxi customers, Ephrina Yohane who is a resident of Matawale and works at Kulima Gold, opposite Hardware Taxi Rank, said she will have difficulties to reach her office because she will have to travel a long distance to the new taxi rank.
Another businessman, Edward Liwonde from Three Miles, said it was worrisome that the taxi rank would be relocating to New Free Market Road which is far from his shop and wished the council did something to ease the congestion and not relocate the taxi rank.