Central Province Permanent Secretary, Anne Sinyangwe, has warned local authorities against using the Presidential directive on street vending as an excuse for the influx of street vending in the province.
Mrs Sinyangwe said when President Michael Sata allowed street vendors to continue trading in the streets until alternative areas are found for them he did not mean that the traders, who already have trading spaces in the markets, should leave the markets to trade outside.
The Permanent Secretary said what the head of state meant was that people who wanted to trade but had no places to display their merchandize should temporarily be allowed to trade on the streets until an alternative place is found.
She said this does not mean that even districts with fewer traders and available markets, like Itezhi-tezhi, should trade on the streets.
Mrs Sinyangwe said there is no need for marketeers in Itezhi-tezhi to move to the streets because the district already has two spacious markets that can accommodate a lot of traders.
She said she is aware that the council recently constructed the New Masemu Market to allow more people with business prospects to trade in.
The Permanent Secretary, therefore, directed the council to ensure that street vendors in the district relocate to the markets to ensure cleanliness in the area.
[pullquote]The Permanent Secretary said what the head of state meant was that people who wanted to trade but had no places to display their merchandize should temporarily be allowed to trade on the streets until an alternative place is found.[/pullquote]
Mrs Sinyangwe said the council should not use President Sata’s directive as an excuse for the many misdeeds happening on the streets because the President’s statement was directed to a few people in places where all the markets were fully occupied.
She said it is understandable for big cities like Lusaka and Kitwe to record high levels of street vending because they have a considerable population and most of the markets are filled unlike in smaller districts.
She further directed the council to apply the guidelines in the Local Authority Act and ensure that high levels of hygiene are maintained to avoid diarrhoeal diseases, especially now that it is rainy season.
Mrs Sinyangwe also directed the council to improve sanitation at the markets, install street lights and use the Keep Zambia Clean and Healthy campaign vehicle for the intended purpose.
And the Permanent Secretary has appealed to the women marketeers at the New Masemu Market to form women’s clubs and apply for loans in order for them to boost their business.
She said the women should seize the opportunity as it is the only way through which government can empower them with more money in their pockets.
Mrs Sinyangwe also urged youths to equally come up with their clubs and engage in economically viable activities so as to attract government intervention.
She said it is time the women and youths of Itezhi-tezhi rose to the occasion and applied for funds through the Office of the District Commissioner rather than sit and complain that the government has neglected them.
Earlier, New Masemu Market Committee Chairperson, Peter Ng’andwe, complained that despite the adequate space in the markets, street vending was growing at a fast rate in the district.
Mr Ng’andwe said as a result, there was too much litter in the streets which, if not controlled, will have a great effect on people’s health in as far as contracting contagious diseases like cholera, dysentery and typhoid is concerned.
He also complained against the poor sanitation, lack of running water and security lights at the market.
Mr Ng’andwe also wondered why, despite the availability of the Keep Zambia Clean and Health Campaign vehicle, the marketeers were forced to ferry the garbage at the market using their own means.
He complained that the vehicle was being abused by the local authority as it was being used to ferry beer to the Council Motel and for other purposes than sanitation activities.
ZANIS
Sad
Mrs Sinyangwe must have her head examined. She is talking as if the rest of us were asleep when Sata permited street vending to continue. What she is saying here is totally out of line because Sata categorically allowed street vending to continue with or without sufficient trading places. Trading places were not an issue as Mrs Sinyangwe is trying to make it look. Let me also remind Mrs Sinyangwe that Lusaka and Kitwe have sufficient market stalls for all the street vendors to relocate. It is not true to say that vending should be justified in cities because there is inadequate market space. The directive by Sata was not targeted at a small number of vendors but to all vendors in the country because he claimed they voted for him. So please put your facts right madam.
Politiking PS. Sha.
How come he is always misunderstood?
Very good question.
Because Zambian people don’t listen we’ll that’s why lol
Cos of misaplication of the law. My Q is Where did he allow them to trade? If he had directed that NO trading on streets there would be no argement ONLY vacanting all streets. This could be easier for councils to apply the rules. If you recall Chiluba he got praised for allowing street vending in return for A VOTE :(
Honestly what else did they expect??
LOOK, MAMA, Central Province Permanent Secretary, Anne Sinyangwe DO WHAT THE LANDS MINISTRY WANTS TO DO. COMPUTERIZE MARKET-PLACE ISSUANCE. GIVE ALL MARKETEERS (INCLUDING STREET VENDORS) ID CARDS. ITS SIMPLE. WITH AN ID CARD AUTHORITIES WOULD KNOW WHO HAS A MARKET PLACE BUT HAS ILLEGALLY COME TO THE STREETS. THOSE WITH NO IDs SHOULDN’T BE ALLOWED TO TRADE AT THE MARKET OR STREETS. ADDITIONALLY, CONTROL STREET VENDING BY INTRODUCING SPECIFIC DAYS WHICH STREET-VENDING SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN WHICH PLACE AND FOR WHAT COMMODITY OR SET OF COMMODITIES. YOU CAN NEVER WIPE OUT STREET-VENDING BUT IT CAN BE CONTROLLED AND MADE PLEASANT.
:)I agree with Kapokola and Peter you are right my brothers no hidden agendas.
Why can he not host a press conference at State House and clarify his directive???Â
Why should I be inside when business is OUTSIDE???????????????? NONSENSE.
The problem with politians is that they do things without thinking for the future. This is is a reason why our country needs a one term president to set up a proper governance structure. we will also have problems with politians whose focus is to feed from serving the people. I cant understand why one would allow some street vendors and stop others- who would want to do business in the market when others are busy ‘catching’ would be customers in the streets…. this is simple logic PS!!
Press conference!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Heads will roll.
NO! Only the head of HEMCS will roll-hope it falls off.
Whatever these guys smoke is serious.Everyone has something to say.Unfortunatelly there is no rytheme in what they say!Then when one speaks they all hear differently.Muchinga weed
Ohh please! Thje president misunderstood again..bufi ubu
13,000,000 Zambians with two ears each mis-understood the President? Then the President is leading a deaf nation including Mrs Anne Sinyangwe.
S.H.U.T UP #14
We can’t put politics ahead of national interests and both Sata and Mrs Sinyangwe should stop playing mind games with zambians.
She be serious!!!!Now Sata and team are becoming gittery boz they hve seen tt street vending is getting out of hand..Lol!!yaba!!
Sata was very clear about vending on the streets and never spoke about marketeers. Obviously Sata and the PF Govt did not realise or rather foresee (typical) that this position would draw more people in, including marketeers (since no fees for stall etc). Now that it’s back firing, the obvious solution is “lying” and how do you start off… “misunderstood” the president. Sata knows his power base is in the “kaponya” and the gullible, which unfortunately are the majority, and Sata will never temper with that lot.
Ukwa should be communicating with the nation in his alleged Bisa mother tongue. It seems every time he says stuff using the English language he always ends up communicating stuff that is in direct contradiction to what he wants to communicate!
Well said Goncalves!
This matter should be left to city councils of every city, town, township. President should not interfere as doing so or giving directives is dissadvantaging the local councils that work tireless to keep the area clean. Chilubalism will harbour more illegal vendors .. hence dirtiness all over the streets
what a comment by ps. Ndelolesyafye.