A year after the Thyolo District Council deployed rangers to enforce market regulations, street vending continues unabated in most markets, including the Thyolo Flea Market.

Thyolo District Commissioner, Hudson Kuphanga, said the council’s efforts to control unregulated vending have been hampered by delays in the approval of new by-laws.

“We really engaged rangers to enforce vending activities in the markets, but we could not continue because up to now the new by-laws have not been approved,” said Kuphanga.

“The new laws would give us powers to repossess and dispose of merchandise from those who defy market rules. Without them, our hands are tied.”

In 2024, the council submitted the proposed by-laws to the Ministry of Justice for approval. However, the ministry has yet to finalize the process, leaving the council without the legal mandate to fully enforce its regulations.

Street vending remains one of the district’s biggest challenges, with traders preferring to operate outside designated markets despite safety and sanitation concerns raised by authorities.

In August 2024, a lorry swept and killed eight people including injuring 29 others while plying their businesses at Thaboni market in the district.