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The Citizens First (CF) party has criticized the government for alleged forceful return of traders to the streets of Lusaka through the demolition of trading spaces without providing alternative solutions.
Party Chairperson for Local Government, Joyce Nyendwa, described the ongoing demolitions as disruptive, leaving many citizens in distress and jeopardizing their livelihoods.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday, Nyendwa called for the government to offer alternative spaces for traders before demolishing markets or shops.
She emphasized that these trading areas were more than just stalls but also vital sources of income for many families.
“Displacing traders without a contingency plan is inhumane and irresponsible. The continuous demolitions have forced people back onto the streets, exposing them to dangerous and unsafe conditions,” Nyendwa stated.
She expressed concern over the plight of victims of the recent demolitions at Lumumba Junction, adding that the situation was deeply troubling.
Nyendwa also criticized the state of the Lusaka City Market, which she described as one of the dirtiest in the country, despite Constituency Development Funds (CDF) being allocated for its improvement.
“The blocked drainage systems and unsanitary conditions in the market are glaring signs of neglect. Instead of helping traders, the council is focused on confiscating their goods and treating them with indignity. Meanwhile, foreign traders continue to enjoy preferential treatment, which is not only unfair, but a disgrace,” she added.
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Nyendwa warned that if immediate action was not taken, Lusaka City Market could soon face a cholera outbreak due to the poor drainage and unsanitary conditions, which she said posed a hazard to street children, traders, and pedestrians.
She also voiced concern over the continued harassment by council police, fearing that someone could fall into the filthy drains and suffer serious injury.
“The UPND government has failed the people of Zambia with their empty promises. Citizens are tired of being let down and yearn for genuine leadership,” Nyendwa said.
Nyendwa called on Minister of Local Government Gary Nkombo and Lusaka Central MP Mulambe Haimbe to urgently address the situation, stating that Zambians could no longer endure such neglect.
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