William Nyirenda (right) briefing the Minister of Commerce Trade and
Industry Margaret Mwanakatwe (centre) and Central Province Minister
Davies Chisopa how PACRA operates during the official launch of a new
PACRA office in Kabwe
Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Margaret Mwanakatwe says there is need to review the 65 years lease of the Luburma Market in the Kamwala trading area in Lusaka.
Ms. Mwanakatwe says it is important that the terms of the lease benefit both the Zambian people and the contractor, who built the market and got a lease of 65 years before handing over to Zambians.
She says it is sad that despite the high rentals at the trading area, traders are also charged in United States dollars which is against government regulation.
The minister says the high rental rates for stalls at the market are not being helpful to the ordinary Zambian.
Mrs. Mwanakatwe said this in Lusaka yesterday when she made a surprise visit to Kamwala trading area following complaints from traders that they pay rent in US dollars.
The traders also complained of poor sanitary conditions and the lack of servicing of the infrastructure.
Ms. Mwanakatwe was accompanied by her counterpart from the Ministry of Local Government and Housing John Phiri, the Mayor of the City of Lusaka John Nyendwa and his Town Clerk Alex Mwansa.
Commerce Permanent Secretary Siazongo Siakalenge and Lusaka District Commissioner Davison Mulenga were also in the minister’s entourage.
The Kamwala trading area was constructed in 2002 by China Hennan under a 65 years lease agreement. China Hennan has continued collecting rentals until a 65 years lease elapses.
Meanwhile, Local Government and Housing Minister John Phiri has stressed the need to have projects that benefit the local people at grassroots level.
Dr. Phiri said this is because people at grassroots are key to the development of the economy.
He observed that difficult trading conditions, high rentals and service charges were hindering the growth of small scale traders in Zambia.
Our government including opposition MPs are the dullest among the democratic countries in Africa. UPND, MMD, PF all just duanzy.
@ nzelu, very true. all the MPs in parley are quiet, debating running mate clause & dual citizenship at the expense of more serious issues facing the common man
No insults, brother Nzelu. Please!!!
lol
just messing with ya
Who has Nzelu insulted? If you are dull Nyau is that an insult? Why dont u like being honest? It this b**ch called Masebo who mortgaged the market.
Who allowed this China Hennan to hold a 65 year lease? This the council’s job to provide trading spaces to ordinary individuals. If the council could not manage they should have entered into a partnership agreement in which China Hennan was to hold only 40% of share holdings. This is why the kwacha is falling. This country has been sold to foreigners, who have seen that their profits decline due to situations like load shedding. They are have now pull out all their money. We need to safeguard our country and its resources.
Our MPs are a major late down to the management of national affairs. Most of the current MPs have been aware about this lease at this market for more than TEN YEARS, But they have done nothing about it,. you can even wonder why these guys are there . all they like to talk about is politics,. WHAT A shame to all these MPs, PF, UPND, MMD, these guys are a disgrace
Did anyone do an investment appraisal? even a simple payback period could have shown that a period of less than 10years would have been more than sufficient to pay back their paltry investment with huge profits looking at the high volume of trade at the market. That is why I agree with Nzelu that our MPs are dull!!
Zambians are the worst enemies of themselves. If it was a zambian who proposed to lease the market, it would have been a big NO. Zambian Owned CEC has been battling for kabompo hydro station approvals, Jacob sikazwe ended empty handed when he wanted to build Legacy Hotels In L/stone. Launshya mine was sold to 100% foreign owned Enya for 75k usd despite Anglovaal bid with zambian partners worth millions of usd. List is endless. Why? petty jealous & politicians who are afraid of seeing rich Zambians lest they grab power from them!
Yet not a single politician/president has held power indefinitely. Stupidity of unimaginable proportions.