Vendors at the Central Business District (CBD) of Nkhata-Bay district stormed the council’s offices over the longtime market fees disagreement which has led to the closure of the market.

Mervis Chirwa one of the vendors said the council revised the daily market fees from K200 to K500 but they were in the negotiation process to consider reducing it to K300.

“Surprisingly, in the course of negotiations to K300, they discovered we discovered this morning that councilor Joseph Thula ordered them to leave the market if they cannot afford to pay the K350 fee.

The Vendors are demanding that their voice is heard for the K300 as they have vehemently vowed not bow down to the council’s decision. On average, the council was collecting K60, 000 daily before vendors stopped paying in May.

Speaking on behalf of the district council, councilor Joseph Thula said the vendors after engaging them that the council is not shaken and it stand by its decision to maintain the daily K350 fee.