Lilongwe City Council (LCC) has demolished Wakawaka Market in Area 36 in the early hours of Thursday, bringing to an end months of disputes between city authorities and vendors operating along the M1 Road. The demolition follows the expiry of a vacation notice that LCC issued earlier this year ordering vendors to vacate the privately-owned market and relocate to alternative trading sites, including the newly established Bypass Road Market and Area 24 Market. The council had previously announced that it would not renew the market’s operating licence, arguing that the facility was operating illegally on private land contrary to the Local Government Act and the Markets and Vending By-laws of 2018. Authorities also cited multiple concerns surrounding the market’s continued existence, including congestion along the M1 Road, sanitation challenges and interference with the planned expansion of the road from Old Town to Bunda Roundabout. The market has been at the centre of controversy for months, with vendors resisting relocation efforts and accusing authorities of targeting the market unfairly. Earlier this year, Local Government Minister Ben Phiri ordered the relocation of vendors from Wakawaka Market to the Bypass Road Market, insisting that no individual in Malawi is permitted to own a market. Despite government pressure, traders obtained a court injunction temporarily blocking their eviction and relocation. Vendors argued that the move threatened their livelihoods and questioned the readiness of the alternative site. Reports also indicated that tensions existed between the council and the market’s operators over the collection of market fees, which vendors allegedly paid directly to the private market owner instead of the city council. Meanwhile, the situation around the market remains tense and fast developing. The main M1 road passing through the area has become impassable after furious vendors barricaded sections of the road with burning tyres and debris from the demolished market structures. Traders were seen scrambling to salvage whatever remained of their merchandise from the rubble, while others reportedly took advantage of the chaos to flee with assorted goods abandoned during the demolition exercise. Police have since moved in and started firing tear gas to disperse the agitated vendors and contain the unrest as tensions continue to rise in the area. The angry vendors are also reportedly mobilising for demonstrations in protest against the council’s action, raising fears of further unrest around the city. Motorists have since been advised to avoid the route as security agencies continue monitoring the situation. The demolition marks one of the biggest enforcement actions by Lilongwe City Council in recent years as authorities intensify efforts to remove informal trading structures and reclaim road reserve land within the city.