The Veep said President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika was “deeply saddened with the loss of merchandise and knows its effects on their households.”

“I have been delegated to convey a message from President Mutharika. As President for all Malawians he says he will not leave you alone, as you grieve for the lost merchandise he grieves with you,” he said.

The VP added: “This is the more reason we have come with officials from Malawi Enterprise Development Fund (Medef) to assess the impact of the financial loss and to appraise those who can get soft loans from the organisation to restart their businesses.”

The fire coincides with a statement released by government earlier this month alleging that HRDC and opposition members were planning to torch markets in the country.

The Vice President said it is the wish of the Mutharika administration that Malawians should be economically self reliant hence Government’s prompt intervention to the fire accident.

He said: “The current administration under the leadership of President Mutharika seeks to ensure that the citizenry is self reliant economically. For this reason we will come again to monitor the impact of the support you will receive.”

Chimulirenji disclosed that Government will provide 200 bags of rice to the 120 victims of the fire accident.

Blantyre City Council is yet to establish the total loss of merchandise and part of the market infrastructure.

Representatives of the vendors Konley Kamnonyere said vending brings food on their table and the damage caused by fire has left them devasatated.

Part of the charred section of Blantyre market

Speaking earlier on, Minister of Homeland Security Nicholas Dausi assured the gathering that security agencies will be on the ground to investigate and get to the bottom of the cause of the fire.

Minister of Local Government Ben Phiri said vendors play a crucial role in society and due to the fragility of their businesses any slight disrupt has cascading effects on the economy as such quick interventions such as rebuilding the damaged part of the market and reconnecting electricity other than the soft loans will ensure normalization of the situation.

Councillor Wild Ndipo, Mayor of Blantyre City and his deputy Cllr Joseph Makwinja among other Government and DPP officials were in attendance.