The exercise comes after an ultimatum period of seven days given by vendors to the town council threatening to boycott paying market fees to force the council collect refuse.

In a petition the vendors claimed that the council was failing to remove waste from both designated and undesignated points especially from around the market raising fears of outbreak of diseases.

Speaking to the media Officer in charge of Mangochi police Deputy Commissioner Elija Kachikuwo distanced the exercise from the vendors' petition saying it is a routine cleaning exercise.

"As police we carry out cleaning exercise every Wednesday around our premises but today (Wednesday) we have thought of extending the exercise to the rest of the town. We are collecting refuse using our own vehicles and those of civilians as a gesture of strengthening our relationship with the community," said Kachikuwo.

Kachikuwo also said the refuse collecting exercise will be continuous to keep the town clean.

"When disease break out everyone including police officers and their families get affected hence our involvement in the exercise," lamented Kachikuwo.

However, Mangochi town council failed to carry out the exercise routinely saying they do not have money.

In an earlier interview Chair for Mangochi town council Ibrahim Kacheya said the council requires about 2 million kwacha to carry out such an exercise indicating that the council has no money at present.

Kachikuwo said the law enforcers were using their own resources to implement the corporate social responsibility.

The ultimatum by the vendors expired on 1 June 2015 and until Wednesday 3 June when the police conducted the exercise the vendors were still paying the market fees.

Commenting on police intervention chair for the concerned vendors Morris Richard said they were pleased with the gesture saying they will hold the boycott. However, Richard was quick to say that they will keep an open eye to it that all the garbage is collected.