Association of Vendors, Traders and Marketeers of Zambia (AVETMZ) has warned the government against agitating the hundreds of street vendors across the country by removing them from the streets without dialogue or providing proper alternative trading spaces in available markets.
Association General Secretary Musonda Mushota says it is contradictory of government to first hike fuel prices leading to an escalated cost of living and then tempering with peoples source of income abruptly by removing them from the street when there are no available trading spaces in markets.
Mr. Mushota is urging Local Government Minister Garry Nkombo not to declare a one-man war on the informal sector but rather engage stakeholders to find a proper solution including designating some streets for regulated vending.
He was reacting to Mr. Nkombo’s directive yesterday to all street vendors to vacate the Lusaka Central Business District.
And Association president Fredrick Tembo is urging President Hakainde Hichilema to intervene in the matter and this process halted for Lusaka, Kitwe, Ndola and Livingstone until new markets are complete to accommodate all the traders.
Mr. Tembo says there is also a need for a quick meeting between local authorities, the Ministry of Local Government and market associations to find a lasting solution to this matter as opposed to forcing matters while the economy continues to negatively affect street vendors.
Mr Tembo said that his association has strongly opposed the wholesale removal of street vendors in major cities such as Lusaka and that the removal of vendors from streets by the Government should be done gradually, adding that asking all vendors must leave the streets will have a negative impact on his members.
He said AVETMZ was aware that currently, Zambia does not have the adequate market infrastructure to accommodate everyone operating in the streets.
“As the Association of Vendors, Traders and Marketeers of Zambia we want to argue what the Honourable Minister of Local Government Garry Nkombo has said over the removal of street vendors. I think as at now if we look at the status of the economy, it is biting and people are complaining so if we are going to take that hard step that street vendors should be removed from the streets then we are going to add salt, I can rest assure you that there will be dust,” he said.
“Quiet ok we appreciate the Government’s efforts as at present they are constructing massive modern markets but the truth of the matter is that those markets should be completed. It is very important that the minister calls for a national indaba, we have a very big meeting with us, the union, the people who speak on behalf of these people. It is very important that they engage us; we gave them ideas to say Mr. Minister and your Ministry we can be moving vendors into markets in phases,” Mr. Tembo said.
“As we are talking right now, my brothers, my mothers, and my sisters who are on the streets are surviving from those K2s they are getting on a daily basis but if we are going to take a position to remove them, we are going to create what we call social problems. We will be experiencing increased prostitution, stealing and other illicit activities because of the decision to remove vendors from streets,” Mr. Tembo said.
“We are in the rainy season, and you all know that in the rainy season every individual complains about the status of living. My humble appeal even to the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema please let this thing be rested first. Let us call for a meeting, a proper one. Let the council come on board, the market associations and the Government. We sit down and plan,” he said.
We warned you. Look how fast this boy garry has changed his tune. One way to wake him up, is to give him some dirty slaps the next time he visits any market.
No No, Government is right its time we made our cities look normal , Hon. Go ahead we are you , so you Associations come up with Real solutions , its like everyday you have more people on the street , but this has to be brought to a stop , lets come up with real solutions with people moving into productive sectors not mere trading
LOOK AT THR MESS THESE VENDORS MADE
SOME TOWNS CANT EVEN BE CLASSED AS 4th WORLD
HOWEVER I DO AGREE ALTERNATIVE AREAS MUST BE FOUND WITH TOILETS ETC
Goverment is right but while in opposition mislead these people. Take Kitwe for example. Vendors were cleared only to be influenced by the then opposition to defy the council and return in corridors especially ShopRite.
This ka chap is playing with fire.
Remove the street vendors and please bring order and sanity to the towns
There has to be a limit to where people can sell stuff. The whole city cannot be a market place for cabbage and bananas! Lusaka is the capital city of Zambia, it has to look like a city in modern times – not market! And owning a shop on Cairo Road, should come with benefits of not jockeying for business with street vendors; as you must pay premium rates for trading on the high street. The way things are, right now, is not sustainable. Lusaka is a jungle of street sellers & young men accosting strangers for parking… – it’s vehicle congested, dirty and chaotic. A complete failure by Lusaka City Council! Long overdue change.
#plant a tree now please!
Greetings family, can someone inbox me the “Street Vendors Association Full names/contact numbers & Emails? Will appreciate. M-Beenzu Nakazwe N Hecker. My Email is: [email protected]. All the best.
Well said Tikki and Zennia,our streets and towns need sanity and order just like Kigali.
Why I agree to some extent the concerns raised by the two officials representing the marketeers across the country. But lets be factual when it comes to doing things for the betterment of our environment. Just passing through the CBD one would wonder if the place a huge refuge camp or a slum or some unplanned settlement. The rains are on and people are trading on street sides without proper structures and sanitation facilities getting soaked by the rains yet the two executive officials are browsing internet in air conditioned offices and diving big cars after knocking off. Please lets nit support wrong things. There is no denying that people would like to put food on their tables but not by engaging in wrong activities at wrong time and places. Threatening Hon. Garry Nkombo that he is…
so you thinks we are kinds. congratuation we shall see
Even the street vending for cars opposite the freedom statue should be moved out. Come on these guys are selling some good vehicles which means they have capital so why can’t they all get together and rent out a space and pay rent just like any other car selling companies? How are the other companies managing to survive by paying rent? The problem with us Zambians is we want everything for free!
If your mother once sold in the street and you school fees was from the street you know what it means and worse you saw your mother running with her merchandise on her head and kicked by the police, It is okay it is your time to speak and act as you wish, Should we blame our mothers, no, go on and do what you so wish, only God knows, our mothers’ intentions are not to make the city dirty although you may consider our mothers to be dirty, all our mothers are looking is food, no politics but food, call our mother all sorts of names, take them anywhere, all we need is food,
kwacha ngwee,
@12 Son of Street Vendor
My Mother was never a Street Vendor but I sympathize with you and all Street Vendor Mothers….seriously it breaks my heart to see poor people who make peanuts being treated like that…Politicians are evil…today they’re calling them dirty and these are the same people who voted for them and they’re living in extreme luxury whilst voters are in extreme poverty….Shame on HH…Shame on UPND and God bless all Street Vendors
@12 Wako
I seriously don’t agree with you…the problem starts from the top…in this HH….look at Kigali Rwanda……now you get it…it’s all about leadership but if you have a Chimbwi no plan President…and disorganized Government just blah blah blah blah blah and Chipante pante every day…expect all the mess…Street Vendors car dealers etc all changanya…they want to eat…HH and the elite are not doing anything to help them ….Kagame has transformed Rwanda but he did it in a smart way
Honestly speaking what was HH’s stance on street vending when he was in opposition. What did he say on radios when PF removed vendors from certain roads and streets. Truth be told, HH was in support of street vendors whenever PF wanted to remove them from streets. What has changed now? These are some things UPND should avoid for now. Fulfil some promises then take a bit of these actions.
The association should be banned, there nothing good that can come from this association apart from anarchy. We have been to other country and we have seen how towns are organised. This kind of politics we have adopted in zambia will not achieve anything, our capital city will continue looking a like a shanty compound. Kudos to Garry for take a tuff decision, not fi PF fonse fyena fwelamwena mu third term.
Gary please work on a solution with stakeholders. Otherwise those Mobile Money booths PF cadres planted in every corner are an eyesore!
Gary should plan everything with all stakeholders. Any way those mobile booths PF cadres planted all over town are an eyesore!
If HH claims to be a democrat this is the time to show it. Not just promises. He must engange the associations that represent the people and arrive at an amicable solution. Nkombo is just a front the real chap behind all this is Vasco dagama. Dont even waste time talking to this chap called nkombo. This is Vasco dagama’s ring. While in opposition Vasco aimed all his shots at ECL what has changed. So all those in the fore front shielding vasco must be ignored.
Son of a street vendor, my mother went kumabala. Sometimes we didn’t see her for weeks when it was planting season or harvesting. She supplied her wares to marketeers, or sold maize to FRA or others. Street vending is not the only way nor is it sustainable.
The government should remove street vendors,vendors who have set up permanent selling points in corridors,only mobile vendors should be allowed.There are markets with idol stands….
Dialogue, dialogue, dialogue: engage, discuss, compromise, agree, then work together!