/ 3 September 2001

ANGRY VENDORS LOOT SHOPS IN BLANTYRE

HUNDREDS of vendors rioted in Malawi’s capital Lilongwe for four hours on Saturday, after city authorities demolished their street stalls overnight, police and witnesses said. The rioters looted two shops and fought running battles with anti-riot police in anger against the demolitions. The city officials demolished the stalls in the Old Town section of the capital in a clean-up campaign. The city accuses the vendors of dirtying city streets. Witnesses said the vendors took control of Old Town, blocked roads with rocks and logs, and smashed several windscreens of vehicles. The vendors have refused to move to an area designated for them, saying it is undeveloped and lacks sanitation facilities. – AFP