Four people have spent a night in police cell following clashes between street vendors and city officials during an operation against illegal vending on Tuesday in Limbe.

Limbe police spokesperson Aubrey Singanyama has confirmed of the arrest in an interview with the press.

According to Singanyama, the four a linked to an attack which happened to Blantyre City Council vehicle.

The four will answer charges of malicious damage and others.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Local Government has moved in by directing the Blantyre City Council to engage Limbe vendors with a view of identifying a place where the vendors could be operating from within 45 days.