Business at Chambeshi market in Kasama t ground to a halt as marketeers staged a near-riot in protest over the council's decision to demolish partially completed slabs at the market on Friday.
The irate marketeers who also beat up a ZANIS reporter, whom they accused of being a council employee, were incensed when they found their stands made of partial slabs demolished this morning.
Police fired teargas canisters to disperse the riotous crowd before they could cause serious damage to council offices located near Kasama police station.
ZANAMA branch secretary Edwin Kafula said the marketeers were angered by the council's decision to demolish the stands for salaula traders at night without notifying them about the decision.
Some of the trades who had initially opened their shops were forced to close for fear of their goods being rooted.
When contacted, Kasama Mayor Sebastian Chipope maintained that his council would not be swayed by the riotous conduct of a few marketeers who he said were being misled by ZANAMA officials.
Mayor Chipope, flanked by his Director of Administration, Joseph Sampa, said the decision to demolish the partial slabs was part of a resolution the council passed three months ago to pave way for the construction of permanent structures at the market.
He explained that this was not only in line with the Keep Zambia Clean campaign, but also in line with the government policy aimed at averting fires in markets by encouraging the construction of permanent structures.
He said the council is under pressure from other marketers who have already paid the service charges and were demanding to be allocated plots at the same area so that they put up permanent structures.
The Mayor has since appealed to police to round up the trouble makers for causing damage to council property.
Good work council. Let’s not have the spirit of promoting unsafe eyesores common in Lusaka spread to Kasama. Keep up the good work Zanis reporter…risking your life for a story to feed Lusaka Times.
Those Bembas should know that it is not time for Monkey life. At least the structures should be permanent and in order. Bravo Police, city council and the Mayor. Development somtimes should come with and Iron hand. It is better 5 temporally strucutures are demolished than waiting for fire to come and sweep out goods worh of millions of kwacha!
the mayor and his council had not done enough just by allocating plots and demolishing.they should have put up altenative structures and allowed the hungry people to either rent or buyand then demolish.
survival ni nkodo
twachula fwebena kasama.. Anyway that’s a gud idear Mr.Mayor