The Lilongwe City Council (LCC) has drawn negative reactions following its decision to raise market fee for business people plying trade in all city regulated markets.

According to reports, the fee has been raised from K100 to K200 and has introduced a ground city rates of K5000 effective November 2020.

According to Vice Chairperson of Lilongwe Central market, Jessie Chirwa, this is despite the city failing to provide sanitation and hygiene services in the market.

Chirwa says introduction of the ground fee is a blow to small-scale businesses who cannot afford to settle the rates.