Construction works for the 351 million Kwacha New Nkhata Bay market has finally come to completion. Contractor for the project China Engineering Corporation Limited Contractors handed over the market to the district council end August.

Speaking in an interview, district commissioner Rodney Simwaka said the project is key in spurring small scale businesses while boosting local revenue at the same time.

“The other market was overwhelmed in terms of space. Traders and customers need a comfortable environment to operate in, hence the request to KFW for additional funding to make this market extension. This market demonstrates seriousness that government has towards infrastructural and economic development,” Said Simwaka

Ward councilor for Nkhata Bay Boma ward who is also the former chairperson for the council infrastructures, Cyria Adamana Nyamwera said he was glad the project had come to

completion.

“It was an eye sore to see other vendors trading by the jetty gate or the bus depot just because of lack of market space. As you know Nkhata Bay is a major tourist destination, it has to be clean at all times,” he said.

On his part, Boma Market Committee Chairperson Foster Jungu Mhone described the development as good news.

“You see when the project was starting most of us thought it was going to stall not ending,’ he said. Mhone said the constrained space as compared to the number of people plying or wanting to ply their trade in the market the challenged the council forcing other vendors to display their wares in the bus depot and along pavements.

“But with the market project now completed, and technically handed over to business and revenue too”.

Mhone also hoped the council would speed up on effecting the e-ticketing system so that the outcry about the market not producing enough revenue should be a song of the past.

According to the director of planning and development for the district Isaac Mkandawire, the market was constructed under the More Income and Employment in Rural Areas (MIERA) with funding from KfW bank with an objective of increasing market access for SMSEs.

“In addition, the project aims at improving revenue for the Council,” he said.

The project which commenced in June 2020, was expected to be completed by March 2021 but delayed due to Covid-19, will accommodate 5,000 vendors including fresh food, second hand cloth vendors and restaurants.

The ultramodern market boasts of treatment facilities for solid waste which includes recycling for fertilizer production.