Lilongwe residents urged to stop buying from streets

Lilongwe’s streets could look different if residents changed where they shop.

City Mayor Alex Peter Banda is urging consumers to stop buying from street vendors and instead patronise established shops.

He says residents’ shopping choices can help shape the city’s appearance by reducing street trading and promoting cleaner, more orderly public spaces.

Banda made the remarks on Tuesday during the launch of PUMA Energy Malawi’s Express Shop at the company’s Area 9 Service Station in Lilongwe, where he said established businesses can contribute to a more organised and attractive city.

He said Lilongwe City Council is committed to creating a conducive environment for businesses while ensuring that they operate in appropriate locations.

Urges residents to buy from shop

“As City Council, we encourage people to consult us when they want to open businesses. Businesses have to be done in the right places,” Banda said.

He also encouraged residents to buy goods from established shops, saying this gives consumers greater protection and makes it easier to trace businesses when problems arise.

“If you find problems like buying expired things or any other problem, it’s easy to find them than buying in the streets,” he said.

For Banda, the issue goes beyond where consumers buy their everyday goods. He believes having more established retail outlets can help reduce street vending and contribute to a cleaner and more organised urban environment.

Kadangwe

The launch of the Express Shop also reflects PUMA Energy Malawi’s strategy to expand its business beyond fuel by modernising its shops and offering customers additional services and everyday products.

PUMA Energy Malawi Managing Director Steveria Kadangwe said the company is targeting to modernise its shops and provide customers with services beyond fuel.

Kadangwe said 40 of the company’s shops are already operational across the country, giving customers greater access to convenience products while visiting PUMA service stations.

The expansion is also creating employment opportunities. Kadangwe said the company’s Shop Express expansion has created jobs for 80 people.

For customers, the growing network means more options to buy everyday essentials in established retail spaces. For the city, Banda believes such businesses can also play a role in shaping how commercial spaces are organised.

As Lilongwe continues to grow, the message from the City Council is that the city’s appearance is shaped not only by planning and enforcement, but also by the everyday choices of businesses and consumers,including where they choose to open and where they choose to shop.