Kitwe vendors back on streets
VENDORS in some parts of Kitwe central business district have defied Government’s ban on street vending and are doing their business after 17:00hrs when there is no security.
The vendors said they had no option but to return to the streets because they had no trading spaces at Chisokone and other markets in the city.
One of the vendors Margaret Musumali said all the trading spaces at Chisokone market were occupied forcing the vendors to trade on the streets after normal working hours when the council police had ceased patrols.
Ms. Musumali said it was not her wish to defy the law but there was nothing else she could do for survival.
She said she relied on street vending to make ends meet for her family because of scarce job opportunities in Zambia.
“If my friends and I do not sell on the streets, how are we going to survive? We have responsibilities to look after our families and most of the established markets in the city are full,” Ms Musumali said.
She however said street vending had become risky but that it was the only source of income for the vendors.
Ms. Musumali said the only permanent solution to street vending was for the authorities to rehabilitate and expand existing markets in the city.
“It is not our choice or pleasure for us to conduct our businesses in a hide and seek manner. We are doing it for survival to feed our families and pay school fees for our children. We also want to trade in a conducive and clean environment,” she said.
But Kitwe Mayor Christopher Kang’ombe advised the vendors to conduct their business in designated market places to avoid coming into conflict with the law.
Mr. Kang’ombe warned that the Kitwe City Council would not hesitate to punish any erring vendor.