Govt gets tough
… introduces stringent measures against street vending and nuisances
PENALTIES for street vending and nuisances have been revised upwards by more than 500 percent in some cases as the Ministry of Local Government has introduced new regulations through Statutory In-strument No. 10 of 2018.
And Government has introduced stringent measures against those permitting a commercial or residential premises to oper- ate as a brothel.
Spitting or vomiting on, or along a street or prescribed road, which pre-viously attracted a penalty fee of 2 units, now fetched 333.33 units.
The statutory Instrument also indicates that collecting levies from mar-ket traders or licensed public transporters for individuals other than the council would be punishable.
All public offences under the Local Government Act, and newly intro-duced ones carry stiffer punishment.
According to the revised Act, the sale of local produce in any street or public place, other than a market established by the council, or with permission of the council, would attract a penalty fee of 5, 000 units per day when previously only fetched 20 units per day. Occupying any brickyard, quarry, market, garden, or other land with-out any title, lease or licence would now fetch over 1000 units when had previously attract only 20 units per day.
The by-law, signed by Local Government Minister, Vincent Mwale states that plying trade by any licenced hawker within stipulated time period on the same area would attract a penal of over 100 percent from the previous.
It indicates that unauthorised tyre mending along a street or premises, operating an unlicenced taxi, unlicenced tailoring and parking of heavy vehicles in any unauthorised place would attract stiffer penalties.
“Willfully or negligently extinguishing or damaging a street lamp, a lamp post, telephone or electric light wire, cable, insulator or standard supporting such cable, or causing interruption in the supply, without permission will attract 16, 666 units from 20 penalty units per day,” the IS reads in part.
Meanwhile, preparing and selling confectionaries, bakery products or fritters, ready meals, fruits and vegetables in unlicensed vans, on the streets or any other conveyances would now be punishable.
Throwing of garbage or effluent into storm drain infrastructure or open environment among others would also attract stiffer measures under the new statutory instrument.