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Plans to crack down on illegal business operations are on hold. They await the eviction of vendors from the streets, says the Ministry of Trade and Private Sector Development.
Government set April 10, 2006 as the deadline for illegal traders, especially foreigners operating without licenses or proper documents to wind up their businesses or face the strong arm of the law.
A snap survey conducted by Economic Report, last week revealed that most illegal businesses operated by foreigners were still running, a week after deadline.
Government suspects that most of the foreign traders, including Tanzanians, Lebanese and Nigerians, come to Malawi as tourists but end up opening businesses in the country.
Secretary for Trade and Private Sector Development Newby Kumwembe confirmed the postponement in an interview on Tuesday.
“We are waiting for the dust on the vendors to settle down first. We should move in on them as soon as this excitement is over,” said Kumwembe.
Trade and Private Sector Development Minister Martin Kansichi recently warned Malawians against shielding the illegal business persons. He said if found, conniving Malawians would be prosecuted along side the foreign offenders.
Indigenous Businesses Association of Malawi (Ibam) Acting President Mike Mlombwa urged government to flush out the illegal businesses quickly. He said the foreigners crowd out Malawian entrepreneurs.
A Tanzanian business woman plying her trade at Blantyre market, but who did not want to be named, described the crackdown as odd. She said there are a lot of Malawians doing businesses in her country of origin.
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