The National Local Government Finance Committee through the More Income and Employment in Rural Areas (MIERA) project is constructing new markets  aimed at transforming people’s living standards  by provision of services such as modern markets.

The objective of MIERA project is to contribute to increasing employment and income in rural areas of Malawi along selected value chains, especially for poorer sections of the population.

To achieve this, the project is constructing new markets at Chinkhoma in Kasungu, Dyeratu in Chikwawa, Embangweni in Mzimba and Goliyati in Thyolo.

The project is also extending construction of markets where KFW had constructed under its urban window project in Sadzi in Zomba, Lunzu in Blantyre, Neno and Nkhatabay markets.

According to NLGFC Engineer Joy Pankomera, physical progress in most of the markets is around 60 percent.

Pankomera said NLGFC is satisfied with the physical progress of the markets in all the districts and expects that the communities will start using them soon.

He added that it is expected that most of the construction works on site will come to a completion in all the markets before May 2021.

"We have had delays in Neno and Embangweni markets. However, we are sure that work in these markets will be finalised before May 2021," he said.

Pankomera says MIERA will accord opportunity for employment to community members in the eight targeted districts since the project recruits’ members of the surrounding area for manual work.

MIERA is a project funded by KFW, a German government agency for financing local development.

It was rolled out on January 1, 2017 and is expected to come to a completion in December 2021.