SHOPS at the new Kitwe’s Nakadoli Market were yesterday repossessed while others were closed on grounds of subletting and non-payment of monthly rentals.
The repossession and closure was ordered by Copperbelt Minister Mwenya Musenge who visited the market in Chimwemwe Constituency to check on the status of all the shops in the market.
Nakadoli market has been at the centre of controversy involving the allocation of shops most of which had unfortunately remained non-operational since 2010 despite having been allocated to people.
Mr Musenge’s visit to the market came in the wake of a petition presented to him by a group of marketeers who had failed to access trading space in the market on the basis that all the shops were occupied.
It however, came to the attention of the Minister who is Chimwemwe constituency Member of Parliament (MP) that most of those who were allocated the shops by the council were now subletting the facilities to others.
The displeased Mr Musenge said subletting of shops could not be allowed to go on because it was an offense under the market Act.
“I received a petition from a group of women complaining of subletting of shops from individuals who were offered by the council.
“These women have been to the council to try and get their own but they are being told all the shops are occupied now when you check through the market, three quarters of the shops are not operating and yet they just want to hold on to them,” Mr Musenge said.
Mr Musenge took to task Kitwe City Council (KCC) manager in-charge of markets in the district, Richard Mulenga and Nakadoli market-master Tonny Kapesha for allegedly failing to address the matter.
He said lack of seriousness by officials in charge of the market had cost the council huge sums of money in uncollected rentals as even those who were operating had not been paying the monthly charges.
“People have to be responsible and so those that are operating and failing to pay we are closing and if they don’t pay by 17:00 hours today (yesterday) we are going to make a decision on the way forward, but for those subletting, we are repossessing the shops right away,” he said.
By press time, more than 70 out of the about 200 shops had been closed while others had been repossessed on grounds of subletting.
This is what the chicken and chips you like eating can do
getting fat and looking like a pig. shapeless or structureless. is it that there are no gyms in kitwe. this type of lifestyle is dangerous. this type of obese politicians should not be allowed to lead us. they will inspired children to get fat thinking its the only way to be a minister. why not the obama way or HH way?
good action ba musenge
Create jobs *****s
Create jobs idiiots
Shame on Africa.
l think Mr Musenge must be commended .People who had no intention of doing business at the market used their connections to get the stands and later sublet them as if they built the stands.What the minister should do now is to give the stands to those who were paying to illegal land lords.lam not a pf cadre but let us give credit were its due.May l appeal to our President MR Sata to appoint Mr Musenge housing minister when the housing project to build 5000 houses in Lusaka begins.
A.M