DAY OF TERROR

DAY OF TERROR
By Kondwani Nyondo, Laura Mpoka, and Jilly Chirwa

What began as an ordinary day for traders in Lilongwe quickly descended into chaos following violent clashes between fish sellers.

The unrest triggered panic among unsuspecting vendors and customers in the market at the time.

According to eyewitness Lotaya Banda, tensions began rising around 9 a.m. when dry fish sellers—who are designated to operate outside the market—stormed the premises to evict fresh fish sellers.

"This has been a long-standing issue," Banda explained. "It started way back. Dry fish and fresh fish sellers have been fighting for space. The dry fish sellers want to be allowed inside the market," he added.
   the born of contention

A fish seller, who opted to remain anonymous, said fresh fish vendors had already set up their stalls when the dry fish sellers, frustrated by the ongoing dispute, arrived armed and launched an attack in an attempt to drive them out.

In response to the escalating violence, police fired tear gas, but the deployment was uncontrolled, with some canisters landing inside unrelated shops.

The MIJ Express crew, caught in the crossfire between police and enraged vendors, also suffered from the suffocating effects of the tear gas, which spread throughout the market.

"It has been like this since morning," said one fish seller, struggling to speak through the thick gas fumes after a canister exploded at the entrance of their shop, which was not fully closed.

Despite the police intervention, the tear gas did little to deter the rioting vendors—many of them young men and even children—who wielded pangas, metal bars, and hammers. Some took advantage of the chaos to vandalize and loot nearby shops.
Smokes billowing from teargas cannisters

Security forces eventually sealed the market gates to protect remaining goods, but by then, significant damage had already been done, particularly at the entrance to the dried fish section, which was destroyed.

Sources indicated that the conflict between fresh and dried fish sellers has persisted for years, with market leaders making several unsuccessful attempts to resolve the dispute.

In an interview, Lilongwe Police spokesperson Hastings Chigalu said authorities were still gathering information and would issue an official statement in due course.

However, calm was finally restored around 4 p.m., with armored police vehicles still patrolling the area to maintain order.

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