THE Government has given street vendors in Lusaka up to Sunday to voluntarily vacate the streets or face the wrath of the law. Home Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani said in an interview in Lusaka that the police would use force to remove vendors who would defy the directive. Mr Mangani said about 300 police and 100 council officers would be deployed for tWe are giving the vendors in Lusaka up to Sunday to vacate the streets or face the law. I think we have given them enough time and it is time to clean the streets, he said.
Mr Mangani said the vendors should take the ultimatum seriously and that the Government should not be blamed for the impending action to be taken against them. The minister said the Ministry of Local Government and Housing had given the police K2 billion for the exercise.
He said the Government had noted with concern that vending in Lusaka and other towns had reached alarming levels and it was time to correct the situation. He further directed the Lusaka City Council (LCC) to sensitise street vendors on the impending police action.
We expect the LCC to see to it that the vendors are sensitised to avoid catching them unawares. As Government, we are committed to seeing to it that Lusaka becomes clean again, he said.
LCC public relations officer Henry Kapata separately said the council was ready to deal with the situation once and for all. Mr Kapata said the vendors had no reason to continue trading on the streets of Lusaka following the opening of the new Soweto Market, which was constructed at a huge cost for the benefit of the traders.
We are moving in and this matter should be considered closed. Those who resist getting off the streets should not blame anyone if found wanting, he said.
Times of Zambia
Post published in: Economy