Blantyre City Council (BCC) has suspended issuance of annual business licences with immediate effect, Faceofmalawi can reveal.

The development comes barely hours after reports emerged that BCC is demanding Mk10,000 upon issuance of temporary business permits to essential goods and service providers during the 21 days lockdown.

In a statement posted on its official facebook page, BCC has refuted claims that it is pocketing money upon issuance of the said permits.

“Blantyre City Council would like to inform residents especially the business community that the temporary business permits issued to essential goods and service providers during the lockdown period are for free. The Council, however, did not stop issuing annual business licences which attract a fee.

“Due to the confusion, the Council has with immediate effect suspended issuance of annual business licences. If any applicant paid for a temporary business permit, they should request for a refund upon production of a valid receipt,” reads in part the statement.

President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika on Tuesday declared a 21 days lockdown starting from April 18 midnight to May 9, 2020.

The lockdown has been effected to control the spread of coronavirus in the country.

So far the country has recorded 16 cases of COVID-19 with two deaths.