By Suleman Chitera

BLANTYRE — The Concerned Citizens of Malawi–People Power Movement (CCM-PPM) has demanded an immediate explanation from Blantyre City Council over the reported confiscation and removal of property belonging to young people operating car-washing businesses around Njamba Freedom Park.

The organisation says the reported action has raised serious concerns about the livelihoods of young people who rely on the informal businesses to support themselves and their families amid persistent unemployment and limited economic opportunities in Malawi.

In a letter addressed to Blantyre City Council, CCM-PPM Chairperson Edward Kambanje and Coordinator Prince Mattaka said the affected young people should not simply be deprived of their means of survival without clear communication about the reasons for the Council’s action.

The movement said the matter was particularly concerning given the difficult economic environment facing many Malawians, especially young people struggling to find formal employment.

CCM-PPM raises unemployment concerns

According to CCM-PPM, the young people operating the car-washing businesses around Njamba Freedom Park depend on the activities as a source of income.

The organisation argued that, while local authorities have a legitimate responsibility to regulate public spaces and ensure that such areas are used in accordance with municipal regulations, enforcement measures should take into account the livelihood implications for people whose incomes depend on those spaces.

CCM-PPM further linked the issue to broader employment challenges facing the country, saying the situation has been made more difficult by the recent repatriation of thousands of Malawians from South Africa.

The organisation said the return of large numbers of Malawians from abroad has added pressure to an already strained labour market, making it increasingly important for authorities to consider how young people can sustain themselves through legitimate economic activities.

It said removing existing sources of income without offering clear information or reasonable alternatives could leave vulnerable young people with even fewer options.

Council urged to return confiscated property

CCM-PPM has called on Blantyre City Council to immediately return the property reportedly confiscated from the car-washing operators.

The movement said that if the Council has decided that the businesses can no longer operate around Njamba Freedom Park, the affected individuals should be formally notified.

It has specifically called for fresh and proper vacate notices setting out the reasons for the decision and the legal basis upon which the businesses are being removed.

According to the organisation, such communication would help ensure that the affected young people understand the Council’s position and have an opportunity to respond to the decision through appropriate channels.

CCM-PPM said enforcement of municipal regulations should be conducted in a manner that is transparent, lawful and sensitive to the economic circumstances of the people affected.

Questions over the future of Njamba Freedom Park

The movement has also demanded that Blantyre City Council publicly clarify its intended plans for Njamba Freedom Park.

CCM-PPM wants the Council to explain whether the reported removal of the car-washing businesses forms part of a broader redevelopment, rehabilitation, beautification or management plan for the public space.

The organisation said clarity on the Council’s plans would help prevent speculation and enable affected businesses and members of the community to understand what is expected of them.

It has also urged the Council to engage directly with the young people operating the businesses to explore practical alternatives where their activities cannot continue at the current location.

Such alternatives, CCM-PPM said, could help protect livelihoods while simultaneously allowing the Council to achieve its objectives for the management and development of the public space.

Calls for dialogue and lawful resolution

Rather than allowing the dispute to escalate, CCM-PPM has called for direct engagement between the affected young people and relevant Blantyre City Council officials.

The organisation said dialogue could provide an opportunity for both sides to explain their positions and identify a solution that respects municipal regulations while protecting the livelihoods of the young people involved.

CCM-PPM maintained that its intervention is focused on ensuring that citizens are treated fairly and that decisions affecting livelihoods are communicated through proper procedures.

The movement said it was seeking what it described as a fair, lawful and practical solution to the dispute.

The controversy comes at a time when youth unemployment and limited income-generating opportunities remain major concerns in Malawi, with many young people turning to small-scale businesses and informal economic activities as alternatives to formal employment.

For the affected car-washing operators, the issue therefore goes beyond the use of public space and directly touches on their ability to earn an income.

Council yet to comment

Efforts to obtain a response from the Blantyre City Council spokesperson were unsuccessful.

A telephone call made to the spokesperson went unanswered.

The Council has therefore not yet publicly responded to CCM-PPM’s allegations or explained the circumstances surrounding the reported confiscation and removal of property belonging to the car-washing operators.

The absence of an immediate response means key questions remain unanswered, including the reasons for the reported action, whether the affected operators were formally notified, what regulations or municipal decisions informed the move, and what plans the Council has for the affected businesses and Njamba Freedom Park.

CCM-PPM is now pressing the Council to address these concerns and engage the affected young people, saying a solution should balance the legitimate regulation of public spaces with the need to protect livelihoods and uphold lawful administrative processes.