CBD: Govt claims over 6,000 trading spaces available in markets for occupancy by traders

Government says more than 6,000 trading spaces are available in markets, which have been deserted by traders across Lusaka who have opted to sell their merchandise in the Central Business District (CBD).

On Tuesday, Police Officers in the company of the Lusaka City Council swung into action and conducted a cleanup of the CDB by destroying all the stands for street vendors who had refused to occupy the trading spaces in markets citing lack of business.

Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Permanent Secretary in-Charge of Technical Services, Nicholas Phiri, said currently there were 11,039 trading spaces in 31 markets in Lusaka out of which 4,415 were occupied and the difference remain empty.

Phiri said in addition to the available space, there were 2,600 spaces in Simon Mwewa lane market of which 1,500 stands were ready for occupancy and 429 shops were also available.

He said currently, the contractor was doing final touches on the drainage and sewage system.

“The Market and Bus Stations Act, the Local Government Act, the SI number 12 of 2018 among other laws provides clear legal standards on the issue of street vending,” Phiri said.

He said unless and until these laws were changed, government will operate within the confines of the law to provide and guarantee safety to all citizens including traders on the street.

“Keeping a clean, green and healthy environment is not a partisan issue, neither is it a matter of coincidence but rather a conscious and intentional move by the government and citizens,” Phiri said.

Former Lusaka Province Minister, Bowman Lusambo, supported the move by government to clean up the CBD, saying street vending was a big problem and must not be tolerated nor politicized.

Lusambo said during his reign he did his best by trying to clean up the CBD.

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