By Burnett Munthali
Store owners in Area 2, Lilongwe, have expressed shock and frustration over what they perceive as unfair and inconsistent practices by the Lilongwe City Council. The council has been confiscating goods displayed outside some stores while leaving others untouched, even when similar violations occur.
Affected store owners have raised concerns about the selective enforcement of regulations, questioning why certain shops are penalized for displaying goods outside their premises, while others are not. “We are confused about the criteria they are using. Some stores are left untouched while others are targeted, yet we are all doing the same thing,” lamented one store owner.
Allegations of corruption have also surfaced, with some business owners accusing council officials of accepting bribes to exempt certain stores from the crackdown. “We have reason to believe that some senior officials at the city council are taking bribes to overlook certain stores,” one source disclosed.
The situation has caused widespread dissatisfaction among store owners in the area, who are now calling for a thorough investigation into the alleged corruption and discriminatory practices. They believe that transparency and fairness are essential to ensure that all businesses are treated equally under the law.
The Lilongwe City Council has yet to respond to these allegations. However, the concerns raised highlight the need for improved accountability and consistency in the council’s operations to restore trust among business owners in the city.
