Care for Nature Zambia has expressed concern with the directive issued by the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Hon. Gary Nkombo asking traders to vacate the streets of Lusaka with immediate effect saying this will send hundreds of families into destitution especially for those who sale perishable goods.
“Although it is coming from a good place as it is aimed at bringing order and sanity to the streets of the cities and towns, can easily be misunderstood because the local authority are the ones with the mandate to construct trading places and as it is right now most market places are congested, they lack water and sanitation facilities and waste management is a problem so send more people to these places is actually more hazardous than them being on the streets while Government expands the markets,” Care for Nature Zambia Executive Director Nsama Musonda has said.
He added that traders have representation through Associations such as the Association of Vendors, Traders and Marketers of Zambia and the Minister should have sought dialogue with the association leaders in order to agree on a lasting solution because this is not the first time that Government is trying to remove vendors from the streets, and so far all attempts have not been positive, indicating that there is need for government to work hand in hand with the affected in order to come up with a solution.
“Notwithstanding that the local authority has the Keep Zambia Clean, green and healthy campaign which they need to enforce to help keep our cities and towns clean, they also have Constituency Development Funds which they can use to expand areas of trade but again this can only be done when all stakeholder come on board and address the issue through dialogue because the right to carry on a business is universal and no trader should be discriminated against,” He said.
He has since appealed to Hon. Gary Nkombo through the local authority to work with Associations, CSOs and the affected traders to hold dialogue meetings that will lead to a lasting solution with sending families into destitution.
