As a testament to the City’s vibrant and committed commitment to fostering economic growth, community engagement, and cultural exchange, Blantyre City Council launched a night market from 6 PM until midnight in the CBD along Victoria Avenue. It seems like good news for street and market vendors, but there are some issues we must take into account.

Article by Uthman Kaisi

The vision of the City Council

In the statement released by the city council, it elaborated that there is a recognition of the need to create a vibrant and inclusive public space that showcases the best of the city’s food, culture, and creativity. However, to ensure the success of the operations, the council had to consider several factors. These factors are safety, business licenses, quality control spaces and layouts, waste management, sanitation and hygiene.

“The night market will be more than just a marketplace, it’s going to be a destination, an experience and a celebration of our city’s vibrancy and diversity,” reads part of the statement.

“However, when examining the issue more closely, it becomes clear that the impact of such development can vary depending on the nature of the market and its location. It is, therefore, advisable to carefully consider the effects on all parties involved. Let’s delve into both the positive and negative aspects of this development in countries like Malawi.”

The good news for street and market vendors

The night market is crucial because it allows both vendors and customers access to the night market. Customers were unable to buy products due to their occupations.

Night market also gives flexibility to the vendors. Since they are operating on flexible time, it allows them to manage their business around other responsibilities. For example, a person might have other things to do like another job or have some meetings to attend. This way, they can come to the market when they are done with all those other responsibilities.

Potential issues with infrastructure and income

On the other hand, the night market also has some negatives like limited infrastructure. Setups like sanitation facilities, lighting and security. A night market is at most a set up at a specific place like the road which does not have anything like a washroom. This requires councils to provide mobile toilets which is rare in developing countries like Malawi. There is also a great need for adequate light for the protection of the vendors as well as the customers to the strangers who will be coming to the markets with bad intentions. However, the vendors may be exposed to health and safety risks such as poor air quality, inadequate waste management as well as crime.

This type of market can also be challenging in terms of unpredictable income. When doing business at night, income might be sometimes unsatisfying due to a number of factors which may include weather conditions, customers turn out and competition. For example, on competition, the ones who are at a good spotlight are the ones who will be making business than the rest.

Working at night is physically demanding. This is in the sense that vendors are required to work long hours of which some work in a very challenging condition. For instance, usually the vendors at the night market are the same vendors you might find in the market or the streets during the day. But they continue working till midnight, which means they end up having very little time to rest.

Overall, the night market plays a vital role in supporting the livelihoods of street and market vendors but it is essential to address the challenges and the disadvantages they face to ensure their well-being and success.