ACTING Minister of Local Government and Housing Bradford Machila says the Lusaka City Council (LCC) cannot claim that it was not aware of the removal of street vendors because it participated in the sensitisation programme before the exercise was carried out.
Mr Machila said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that Lusaka Mayor Robert Chikwelete should not claim ignorance of the exercise because a ministerial statement was issued to Parliament to that effect, adding that Government’s intention to remove the vendors was mentioned at other fora.
“It is grossly unfair to the Minister of Home Affairs for the council to say it was not consulted before this exercise was conducted. It is the duty of the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure that law and order is enforced,” he said.
Mr Machila said it is surprising to note that Mr Chikwelete is only concerned about the interest of vendors, ignoring those of shop owners who were being inconvenienced.
“Who should look after the interest of the licensed traders who were being inconvenienced by these vendors who were trading right at their door steps?” he asked.
Mr Machila was reacting to Mr Chikwelete’s statement on Muvi TV that the council was not aware of the operation.[quote]
And Eastern Province MMD provincial chairman Kennedy Zulu said he supports the move by Government to clear vendors from the streets of Lusaka.
He said the LCC has tried to remove the vendors many times but failed.
Mr Zulu said it is surprising that Mr Chikwelete expressed ignorance when LCC is incapable of removing the vendors.
“LCC has failed to remove these vendors, which is why the ministry was forced to come in. It is surprising that the mayor and the council spokesperson are contradicting each other over this matter.
How can Mr Chikwelete express ignorance over this matter when he is the one who is supposed to remove these vendors?” he asked.
Council will use the Messagers and the state will use ba Para, so who has more muscle?
This Chikwelete character is only worried because his source of “illegal” income is closed. We are aware that he has a butch of hooligans who have been leving the vendors. The funds collected could only be accounted for by chikwelete himself.
LT, retype your LOcak! Pls
I hear that the MoLocal Gvt transfered 2billion Kwacha to MoHome affairs for the exercise. Now I ask you who understand these things to explain all this money can be spent on people who are already in GRZ employment.
This mayor is a spineless politician who is unable to face the truth. How can he be against the removal of vendors who were responsible for messing up the city’s streets? It appears he was happy with the status quo or maybe he is already scared that his party will lose elections because of this.
The post of city Mayor has lost its value in recent years. We should do away with this system where a handful of party cadres choose one of their own as mayor for all of us.
I just hope the vendors wont be allowed to come back (quietly) as most often happens during election years.
#6 Nkhosi. I dont know how old you are, but just want share with you something. Before independence and some years in independence only people who had proper property in a town would be allowed to become Mayor. This meant that any one holding this post was both mature and responsible. To day even a (no disrespect meant) charcoal burner can become mayor. Those days mayors would receive Diplomats in their own houses and not at the Civic Centre. This was possible because the mayors were already affluent and did not depend on the council as a source of income.
This chap is a PF cadre and is blind to the truth. He is worried the vendors will demand for the money they have contributed to his party but ended up in his pocket. He is happy with a filth city …..
Mr Mayor pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee stop being a cadre on serious issues. Kapata LCC spokesperson said we will purse the vendors and will set up fast rack courts to deal with them. While his dull Mayor says we are not aware. This talk of Vendors was there even before Teta Ma vendor passed on. Chikwelete put vendors in your yard not our streets. Shaaaaaa.
LT once again, can you retype LOcak please! I presume you meant Local?