Punch up

SIMON MUNTEMBA writes ZAMBIAN traders in Chipangali District, Eastern Province yesterday fiercely exchanged blows with their Malawian counterparts at a mobile market commonly known as Kabwandile in Mgubudu area. The scuffle was about the infiltration of Malawians into Zambia’s retail business and selling their merchandise at a lower price than the indigenous Zambian traders. The two groups fought and many are said to have been injured in the fight, while some goods and stands were burnt to ashes. The traders, who own stalls at the market, said the group traders from Malawi were pricing their merchandise lower than them and as a result they were not making selling and making enough profit to pay daily market fees. One trader, Ganizani Phiri told the Sun in a telephone interview that as indigenous Zambians, they would not allow an influx of hawkers from Malawi to encroach on their businesses by hawkers and make it difficult for them to survive. Mr Phiri said despite paying market levies and trying to reason with their Malawian counterparts on the need to set a uniform price, the efforts had failed resorting to ‘’sorting them out’’. “Tayesa kukamba nawo anzathuwa koma salufuna kumva. Ndiye ife ngati ma Zambians sitidzalola anthu amalondaakudziko lina kutionongela malonda,” he said. Confirming the development, Eastern Province Police Commissioner Luckson Sakala three people were injured in the fracas, while seven have been arrested. Mr Sakala said according to preliminary investigations, the Zambian traders were not happy with their Malawians counterpart selling their merchandise at low prices and conduct their business at Mgubudu area. The police commissioner explained that the Zambian traders started fighting with Malawians and that in the process, three Zambian traders were injured and that out of the three, one was seriously injured and is currently receiving treatment at Mgubudu Health Post. “Seven Zambian nationals are currently in police custody and have been charged for riotous behavior, “he said. The Sun