Lusaka City Council, Police demolish illegal stalls at COMESA Market

The Lusaka City Council (LCC) and the State Police have demolished illegal makeshift stalls at COMESA market.

The stalls, which were used as shops, were illegally constructed and encroached on a titled plot and road reserve, according to LCC Assistant Public Relations Manager, Nyambe Bulumba.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Saturday, Bulumba explained that the stalls also blocked access to the entrance of the COMESA-ZESCO Substation near the Downtown Footbridge.

“The Local Authority acted on a court order for those that encroached on a titled plot and to restore order and sanity for those with illegal structures in the road reserve and ZESCO substation,” Bulumba said.

Prior to the demolition, LCC had served enforcement notices to the structure owners to remove their goods and vacate the premises, but these were ignored. This non-compliance prompted the Council to collaborate with the State Police and conduct an operation from 23:00hrs to 03:30hrs, removing the illegal structures and restoring order.

“The Council has impounded the goods found in the shops of those who did not comply and these are being kept at the Civic Centre. Owners are advised to come to our offices to identify and reclaim their goods,” Bulumba added.

He urged the public to engage with the Council when erecting structures in the city to avoid legal inconveniences.

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