TWO health inspectors and a revenue collector working for the Livingstone City Council have been attacked and brutally beaten up by Shebeen traders in the tourist capital as they were carrying out routine operations at Chandamali Market.
The three had earlier on closed some Shebeens at Chandamali Market and they were attacked on Wednesday afternoon when they went back to the same market to collect the beer products to use them as exhibits in the courts of law.
Both Livingstone City Town Clerk Vivian Chikoti and Council Public Relations Manager Emmanuel Sikanyika confirmed the development in separate interviews yesterday.
Ms Chikoti said it was unfortunate that the traders had taken the law into their own hands by attacking officers who were carrying out their duty to promote sanity in the tourist capital..
She said it was illegal and against the laws of the country for any person to sell beer within market places.
And Mr Sikanyika, who declined to name the three council employees, said the trio were severely beaten by Shebeen traders when they went to collect the beer products to be used as exhibits in the courts of law.
“As you may be aware, the Markets and Bus Act does not allow the sale of beer within markets and bus stations.
The three had earlier on locked the same Shebeens for engaging in illegal sale of beer in a market place. When they went to open the shops to get the products, a team of traders descended on them and beat them severely,” he said.
Mr Sikanyika said one council employ was beaten almost to death and he was only resuscitated at Livingstone General Hospital where he was discharged yesterday.
“The council will not relent to promote sanity in the city regardless of the attack on our health inspectors.
We also urge members of the public to work closely with us because Livingstone is a tourist capital and it attracts several tourists who deserve better services,” he said.
Mr Sikanyika said the local authority reported the matter to the police after which three suspects were arrested the same day.
By press time, Southern Province Commissioner of Police Mary Chikanda could not be reached for a comment as her cell phone was constantly off.
Don’t mess with my source of food-on-the-table, i will kill you! You ldiots have jobs and earn a salary every month.
My advise to you is when carrying such an important action ,please apply for Security from the nearest Police station simple. We could have lost one life already. Please this a lesson to you officers. My dear Vendors don’t take the law in your hands. You will re grate when tables are turned upside down.
Unbelievable. ..I can see similar situation as in Kenya were people were dieing like flies.
you people really need to get the whole full story before you publish these things because you just went to the council(part of the government) who will lie and do whatever they can to keep their name clean. I have the video and pictures of a civilian who was injured and brutally assaulted by the council people. The reason why they did not want to name any of the council workers is because none of them were injured and am going to give the pictures and video I have to zanis and see what they will say about this.
If the story is true, arrests should have made. Beating up or assaulting Men in Uniform is an offense under the Zambia Law. These guys should have also been slapped with case of Assault.
Lawlessness at work. Ala bwafya kwena.