LUSAKA Province Minister Gerry Chanda says Government acknowledges the problem of hawking as a national issue but getting rid of traders from the streets at the moment would do more harm than good.
He said although some citizens have complained about allowing street vendors to continue trading from the streets, they cannot be stopped because that is their only source of income.
He said at the moment, the Patriotic Front (PF) government is working at creating employment opportunities for all to alleviate poverty.
Colonel Chanda said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that President Sata and his cabinet are working to ensure that Zambians, especially youths are economically empowered to help them fend for themselves.
“It is because of Government’s commitment to job creation and poverty reduction that the President gave a directive to keep vendors on the streets so that they too could earn a living,” he said.
“Many people are benefiting from the presence of the vendors on the street and they will remain there until Government formulates a lasting solution,” he said.
Col Chanda said Government cannot force the traders off the streets as the action may result in them engaging in illicit behaviour such as crime and prostitution to make a living.
He said as soon as Government makes a decision on how to deal with vendors, the public will be informed.
Col Chanda said the new Government will soon address the matter to promote sanitation and avoid outbreaks of the disease.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
The need to regulated.
is job creation a secret???
we keep hearing of it but dont know how its being done, is it a special magic trick?
I just don’t understand what the PF is doing really. Whichever way you look at it, the move to allow vending was ill conceived. The President simply acted on impulse against the City Mayor and Local government Minister who had earlier suggested otherwise. Emply the vendors to clean the city and make the exercise ongoing. PF is headed for doom as it is being led by all blind people.
wat a joke
Ba Nkandu Luo, you are a very strong woman. Im supprised you didnt resign…bn rediculed like that? HEMCS is a disappointment, he had my vote ofcourse.
Sata realised that he would become unpopular instantly and decided to make a u turn. I hope those that thought the man was a magician can now see through him. He plays on people’s minds and acts on impulse.
Dull duller dullest Minister..
Fool, very fool and most fool minister. Him and Sata don’t reaalize that trading on streets is a health hazard? Why should people leave markets to sell on the streets?
Let me advise the PF govt that street vending is bad when the vendors do it in wrong places. Look at those along Lumumba Road. Somebig trucks that carry dangerous materialslike fuel and acid. Now if one day one of these trucks loses control, many souls will be lost. This is not a joke but mark my words. The govt will be blamed and alot of money will be spent on coffins and funeral expenses.
This government acts first and thinks later! Luo was right to want to clean up the streets, but the highest office in the land had gone and ordered choas into the towns. This was a wrong decision and we shall live to regret the consequences. The disorder and unsanitary conditions in which these vendors conduct their business is a health hazard. We already miss the organised environment that Zambia was once known for. Please some one talk to the president to rescind this “decree” for which the by laws of the councils are very explicit.
“He said as soon as Government makes a decision on how to deal with vendors, the public will be informed”. Wasn’t Professor Luo’s decision a government decision? Or maybe in the PF ministers do not speak for government? I am bewildered by these politicians and they are growing in numbers every day as they battle to be seen defending the boss.
My friend Gerry Chanda, take some free advice from me: cholera would do much more harm than keeping the street vendors off the streets. I am sure the learned Prof knows that.
#12 NEC, if president Sata made a u-turn today, I am sure Hon Gerry Chanda would do the same.
I dont want to be associated with a DULL Minister like this one, so killing people through outbreaks is much better??? Shameless murderer, no wonder, you regard street vending as job creation within 90 days, useless chaps.
pipo lets learn to think 4others. if it was u on the streets n being chased then u dont v any source of finding money. pf keep it up for leaving the streets pipo thr.
How a government and a president can defend street vending is beyond me, as these people don’t contribute anything to the economy but make it costly or the municipal council to operate. Why should a brick and mortar shop owner continue to pay tax if vendors are allowed to trade unrestricted at his doors steps.
Only a foolish govt can allow street vending in such a disorderly way. You talk of bringing in tourists, they will not come to such a health hazzard nation. Shame on you.
You can’t have trading places everywhere. You are courting chaos. Come up with innovative solutions. Why do Councils build markets? Perhaps make some roads like Chachacha pedestrian freeways (no cars)and Allow the vendors there. Populism comes at the cost of civil obedience
Leadership is very interesting, the whole colonel can sink so low and support the presidents move just because SATA is his boss? iam sure the colonel would nt like this street vending to continue but for the sake of protecting his Job he just has to support the COBRA hahahahahaa..politics no principles
The solution is not to allow them to trade in the streets, but to create vending zones and construct more markets. You do not solve a problem by creating another problem.. The president got it wrong here. In Choma and Ndola vendors had even relocated toarkets and customers were still following them.
Anyhow, the law on street vending is still intact and any council that take them to court will win their cases. The president can may be use his special powers to release them there after.
You bloggers trying to call the goverment as foolish must think twice. the president is right. Mind you that the council still charge those people in the streets. They pay to the council everyday. So it is up to the local goverment to clean the city or just give an order that let the venders clean after trading. Where do you expect all those people to be employed? Most of them don\t even know how to write their names.
Hear! Hear! Hear! That’s the PF govt talking. Well, okay, the rain season is now upon us, and PLEASE LET CHOLERA WREAK HAVOC ON THE STREETS so that we see what Sata and his PF will say and do. I’m very disappointed with this government. If you marry a new wife and the moment she comes in she says, my husband I’m NOT going to sweep this house because there is nowhere to throw the rubbish I will sweep….just divorce that woman! But zoona pazed you have no standards. So ba PF and Sata, who think like this, ebali BEST????!!!! Atase!!
Kick them out please. There are other jobs these people could do. Sha