Business at Mgona Market is increasingly being overshadowed by fears of violence after the Mgona Agro Dealers Association claimed its members are facing threats from armed individuals amid a dispute over the operations of foreign traders.
A press briefing by the Mgona Agro Dealers Association was disrupted in Mgona Township, Lilongwe, on Sunday after a group identifying itself as concerned residents interrupted the event amid a growing dispute over the operations of foreign traders at Mgona Market.
The association had organized the briefing to inform the public about a recent High Court injunction obtained against individuals accused of conducting business without proper documentation and operating shipping-container businesses at the market.
Following the disruption, the association moved to another venue where the briefing proceeded successfully.
The incident exposed deep divisions within the township over the presence of foreign traders. Speaking on behalf of the concerned residents, Rabson Chikoya said they support the continued operation of foreign traders, arguing that they create employment opportunities for locals and contribute to reducing crime in the area.
Addressing journalists later, Mgona Agro Dealers Association chairperson John Mmadi welcomed the court order and appealed to government and security agencies for protection, alleging that association members had been subjected to threats and intimidation since the ruling was delivered.
“We are not afraid of competition but we are afraid of 24 panga knives that the foreigners have bought for some paid Malawians to deal with us,” said Mmadi.
Mmadi maintained that the association is not opposed to foreign nationals doing business in Malawi, provided they possess the necessary legal documentation. He further alleged that some members had received threats, including warnings that their warehouses would be burned.
The dispute stems from a ruling by the High Court’s Commercial Division in Lilongwe, which granted an interlocutory injunction to the Mgona Agro Dealers Association and other claimants. The court restrained the defendants and their agents from bringing shipping containers into Mgona Market and from conducting business activities alleged to be unlawful pending the determination of the substantive case.
In its ruling, the court cited allegations of undocumented business operations and acts of intimidation involving armed individuals. The court also noted that the defendants neither appeared nor filed a response despite being served with court documents, leading to the granting of the injunction while the matter awaits full trial.
