By Wezzie Gausi
On a typical morning, Lilongwe’s bustling flea market is a hive of activity.
Vendors call out to customers, negotiating prices for second-hand clothes, electronics, and fresh produce.
The air is thick with the scent of roasted maize, sizzling meat, and the buzz of countless conversations.
This market, a cornerstone of trade in Malawi’s capital, supports thousands of livelihoods.
But beneath this vibrant energy lies a silent crisis—one that is threatening the health and dignity of its nearly 20,000 daily users.
The market, sprawling and chaotic, operates with only two functioning public toilets. For a facility that caters to tens of thousands of people every day, the inadequacy of these facilities is glaring.
Lines snake around the poorly maintained structures, and when the toilets inevitably overflow, the surrounding area becomes unbearable. The stench of human waste competes with the aroma of street food, creating a nauseating blend that has become part of daily life for vendors and shoppers alike.
Steven Magombo, the market chairperson, sighs deeply as he surveys the crowded market. His brow furrows with frustration.
“Every day we pay our market fees. We are fulfilling our responsibility, but look at this mess,” he says, motioning towards overflowing bins and a trickle of wastewater meandering through the stalls.
“How are we supposed to work in these conditions? This is not just about business anymore—it is about survival,” laments Magombo.
To make matters worse, untreated wastewater from the affluent Area 2 residential neighbourhood cuts through the market, leaving behind pools of stagnant water and a pervasive, sickening odour.
Raphael Tsabola, the market’s secretary, shakes his head as he steps carefully over a slick patch of mud mixed with waste.
“We have complained to the council countless times, but nothing changes. With the rains coming, we are sitting on a health disaster. Cholera, dysentery—you name it. It is only a matter of time,” he says grimly.
In response to mounting complaints, the Lilongwe City Council took a controversial step.
They contracted private individuals to construct seven additional toilets. But these facilities are not free.
Vendors are required to pay each time they use them, sparking outrage among those who feel they are being exploited.
Many vendors refuse to use the pay-per-use toilets, viewing them as a symbol of the council’s failure. Instead, some resort to open defecation in nearby bushes or hidden corners of the market, further compounding the sanitation crisis.
Werani Chilenga, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Climate Change, has publicly condemned the Lilongwe City Council for its negligence.
“This is a disaster waiting to happen. With the rainy season approaching, the risk of cholera is dangerously high. The council must act now by constructing at least 20 free, well-maintained toilets in this market. Anything less is unacceptable,” Chilenga said.
Lilongwe City Council Chief Executive Officer Macloud Kadammanja has pledged to address the crisis.
“We recognise the challenges and are working tirelessly to resolve them. Privatising some of the toilets was intended to ensure they are well maintained. However, we are seeking funding to construct more free public toilets,” Kadammanja said.
The crisis has also drawn the attention of environmental activists. Mathews Malata is one of them. He decried the situation as a gross failure of governance.
Malata stresses that markets are not just commercial spaces—they are public spaces where health and safety must be safeguarded.
For many vendors, the issue is deeply personal. Their livelihoods are intertwined with the market, yet every day they face the risk of disease.
The situation at Lilongwe Flea Market is a stark reminder that development must start with the basics. Clean water, proper sanitation and effective waste management. These are not luxuries—they are human rights.
The market’s plight exposes systemic failures in governance and public health infrastructure, failures that threaten to undo progress towards national and global development goals.
Until the council translates promises into action, Lilongwe’s largest market remains a place where business thrives in the shadow of disease, where survival comes at the cost of dignity and health.
For now, the vendors continue their daily hustle, weaving through waste and filth, holding onto hope that their voices will eventually be heard, and that change—real, lasting change— will come.
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