Makeshift stalls demolished in Lusaka Central Business District, as Police keep vigil on street vendors

Street vendors in Lusaka on Tuesday morning woke up to a rude shock after the Zambia Police in collaboration with Lusaka City Council razed down their makeshift stalls in Lusaka’s Central Business District (CBD).

Government this year had given the Street vendors three months ultimatum to find alternative trading places such as markets or face removal.

On Tuesday Morning, the visibly annoyed street vendors expressed disappoint with government’s decision to remove them from the streets without giving them another notice and more time to vacate the streets.

The vendors lamented the decision to remove them from the streets saying it was a sign that government did not care about their welfare as street vending was their only source of livelihood.

The vendors have since called on President Hakainde Hichilema to intervene in the matter.

Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Permanent Secretary in-Charge of Administration, Maambo Hamaundu, said government wanted to bring sanity and bring orderliness in the CBD.

Hamaundu said government wanted the street vendors to move back into the markets instead of trading in the CBD where they were blocking roads such as Lumumba, Freedom Way among others.

“The issue is about reclaiming the roads, the issue is about insuring that those who are supposed to go into the markets return into the markets, you will find that the CBD has indiscriminate disposal of garbage resulting it looking filthy,” he said.

Hamaundu said Tuesday’s operation was not extra-ordinary but a normal one which would continue in government’s quest to clean up the Central Business District and restore order and sanity.

Police in full riot gear are keeping vigil in the Lusaka Central Business District as vendors were seen watching in disbelief with some of them shedding tears.

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