Dowa Council Invites Private Investment in Madisi Market Shops

The has invited business operators interested in private trading spaces to engage the council and make special arrangements to construct their own shops at Madisi Market using improved designs.

The move comes amid growing concerns from surrounding communities and vendors over delays in completing the market, which began about 15 years ago.

Vendors say progress has been minimal despite significant financial investment. Some structures have deteriorated over time, including iron sheets that were blown off by strong winds, forcing repeated expenditure on the same project.

Madisi Market Vice Chairperson Francis Ching’amba said the market was initiated alongside Mponela and Ntchisi markets with funding from MASAF, but while the other two projects were completed, Madisi Market has stalled.

He said the facility currently lacks basic amenities such as toilets, adding that vendors are responsible for cleaning their own trading spaces while council officials only collect market fees.

Ching’amba also raised concerns over sanitation, saying the market becomes filthy on busy trading days due to a lack of dustbins. He alleged that complaints to fee collectors are often dismissed.

“We suspect that some people are blocking the completion of this market. We need it finished as soon as possible,” he said.

Another trader, Solomon Mafunde, claimed that while the official market fee is K200, some vendors dealing in commodities such as potatoes, maize, and sugarcane are being charged up to K1,000 on the grounds that their goods contribute to dirt in the market.

He also cited poor sanitation facilities, saying there is only one toilet without a door, forcing some traders to return home to access proper facilities.

Responding to the concerns, the council’s Public Relations Officer, Sylvester Kumwenda, said low compliance by vendors to relocate to the designated market has affected revenue collection and service delivery, contributing to the deterioration of infrastructure.

Kumwenda said the market was initially constructed under the District Development Fund (DDF) to accommodate weekly markets, locally known as “Kabwandire.”

He added that the council plans to use locally generated revenue in the 2026–2027 financial year to improve the facility, including constructing additional toilets, building more shops, and renovating existing structures.

The council also plans to intensify stakeholder engagement through dialogue, sensitisation, and awareness campaigns involving vendors, market committees, traditional leaders, and the wider community.

“Through shared commitment and collaboration, we believe the challenges can be addressed and Madisi Market can become a vibrant and mutually beneficial economic hub for the district,” said Kumwenda.

The media tour highlighting conditions at the market was supported by the under its project on enhancing citizen participation in local governance, funded by the NCA-DCA Joint Country Programme in Malawi.