Police in Mzuzu on Wednesday afternoon arrested 72 vendors for allegedly involved in illegal street vending as part of their on-going sweeping exercise in the City.

Mzuzu Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Maurice Chapola, confirmed the development to Face of Malawi.

“This is part of our continues sweeping exercise that among other things aimes at reducing crime rates in the City,” he said.

According to Chapola, out of this number, 18 are women and the rest are men.

These suspects are expected to appear before Mzuzu High Court soon to answer charges of illegal street vending, contrally to section 8 as led with section 26 of Local Government.

This exercise comes barely 53 days down the line after Mzuzu City Assembly’s deadline for the vendors to vacate the streets and move to legalised vending places in the City.