GOVERNMENT has urged street vendors trading along the
Umodzi Highway in Chipata District to move from the streets
to allow Mota Engil contractor to finish carrying out work without
facing problems.
Eastern Province Minister Makebi Zulu said in a telephone
interview that there was need for street vendors to comply with the
directive that they should move from the streets into market place.
“I am advising the street vendors to move out from the streets so that
the contractor who is carrying out works cannot be disturbed. The same
street vendors who are selling along the road have left Saturday
market stands,” he said.
The minister also disclosed that Chipata Municipal Council has found
an alternative land which some street vendors without stands could be
selling from.
Mr Zulu said the council would ensure that the place were some street
vendors would be relocated becomes habitable.
Last Friday scores of street vendors fought running battles with the
police as they protested over the decision by Chipata Municipal
Council to remove them from the streets.
The angry street vendors were demanding for the removal of Chipata
Mayor Sinoya Mwale.
Police officers fired teargas canisters after the traders refused to
stop the protest but they also responded by throwing stones at the law
enforcers.
But Mr Mwale said it does not make sense for street vendors to rise
against the council because the decision to remove them was agreed by
Government and the council.
We are yet to see a lot of this in the next 5 years under Jameson Vodka Chakolwa Rungu and the pamafi party.Kukosa zoona…
BOZA ITS NOT GOVT ITS CHIPATA MAYOR AND ON THE COMTRARY THE AREA MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT HAS REFUSED THAT, ENWAY THE STREETS ARE SOO DIRTY , YOU CANT LIKE IT
Umodzi Highway requires a face lift. This is the only main highway in Chipata that heavy trucks and buses can use. I urge our people to give the contractor to repair the road. Its not about politics!!
No we are not moving, we voted for PF so we stay and trade on this road. Let them move the road somewhere else.
After we give you votes you now say move. NO.
Josky, I fully support you. We need to learn to be orderly. It is not about politics. In fact, that politics are over, we should now do things sensibly. Let all the vendors go to markets. Let us try to be clean in what we do.
ON THIS ONE I AM WITH THE GOVERNMENT. SANITY AND LAW NEEDS TO RETURN TO OUR COUNTRY. THOSE STREET TRADERS NEED TO BE GIVEN A PLACE THAT THEY CAN TRADE FROM. OUR STREETS ARE LIKE SHANTY COMPOUNDS NOW.
Most people only debate the symptoms. What you should ask yourselves is; What are the underlying reasons for so much unregulated and illegal street vending? Why isn’t it reducing? How many vendors are you going to ‘cram’ in how many markets or alternative habitable trading places? Why is there so much trading rather than local manufacturing? If everyone is selling, is enough being bought to sustain the sellers? If it is not easy to answer these questions, then the solution lies not in cosmetic piecemeal ushering of vendors back and forth or engaging in running battles, but in the very heart of the wholesome economic strategies, if any exist. For example, if most people were able to be engaged in production and manufacturing industries using local resources, vending at this scale WOULD…
…. dissipate.
This is what happens when you legalise street vendors!!