By Burnett Munthali
A chaotic scene unfolded at the main entrance of the Parliament Building in Lilongwe on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, when angry vendors chased away three senior government ministers.
Minister of Local Government Richard Chimwendo Banda, Minister of Trade Sosten Gwengwe, and Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu had arrived to address the concerns of the vendors, but their visit was met with fierce resistance and hostility.
The ministers had planned to engage the vendors in a dialogue regarding their grievances, hoping to calm tensions and offer solutions.
However, as soon as they arrived, the atmosphere quickly turned hostile.
The vendors, who had been protesting against government policies affecting their businesses, refused to listen to the officials, arguing that past engagements had not yielded any positive changes.
Tensions escalated rapidly as the vendors voiced their frustrations, accusing the government of failing to address their economic struggles.
Despite attempts by the ministers to speak, the crowd grew increasingly agitated, chanting slogans and demanding immediate action rather than empty promises.
The situation took a violent turn when some of the vendors began pelting stones at the ministers.
The sudden attack forced the officials to flee for their lives, abandoning their planned address.
Security personnel struggled to contain the chaos as the vendors continued throwing objects, forcing the ministers to retreat into their vehicles and leave the scene in haste.
Eyewitnesses described the incident as a dramatic and embarrassing moment for the government officials.
One vendor, speaking anonymously, expressed frustration, saying, “We are tired of government officials coming to tell us lies.
They keep talking, but we see no action.
Our businesses are suffering, and all they do is make speeches.”
The ministers’ departure did little to calm the angry vendors, who continued to demand urgent interventions from the government.
Many expressed disappointment over what they perceived as a lack of commitment from authorities to address their financial hardships and worsening business conditions.
Security forces later arrived at the scene to restore order, but the incident underscored the growing discontent among informal traders who have been struggling with economic instability.
As of now, the government has not issued an official statement regarding the violent confrontation.
However, the ministers’ humiliating retreat has raised serious questions about the administration’s ability to effectively address the concerns of ordinary citizens.
It remains to be seen whether the authorities will take concrete action or if the vendors’ frustrations will continue to escalate.
