RETURNING VENDORS

SOME councils in Zambia have yet again slipped back into comatose after showing a glimmer of hope at the height of the cholera outbreak and the ensuing expulsion of vendors from the streets.

Local authorities had regained some strength when President Edgar Lungu invoked his emergency powers to involve the military in the cleaning exercise and the eventual removal of all vendors from the streets.

Sadly, vendors are slowly taking up positions in the streets as evidenced in Ndola and Chipata. In Kitwe they troop to the streets after 17:00 hours, which still is an offence.

Street vending was proscribed to ensure sanity and orderliness because the trade pattern had drifted into an abyss of absolute confusion.

The willy-nilly kind of vending became widespread in almost all the towns and presented a fertile ground for outbreak of diseases, thefts, traffic congestion and generally a breakdown in sanity.

This was epitomised by the outbreak of cholera in Lusaka and other areas.

It became inevitable, therefore, for the government to reinforce the law pertaining to street vending, hence the amendment of the Statutory Instrument (SI) 54 of 1992, now referred to as Local Government (Street Vending and Nuisances) amended regulations 2018.

However, in the past few days the ugly pattern is slowly resurfacing.

In Ndola, pockets of illegal vendors are apparent on the busy Chisokone Road as well as Buteko in the Central Business District (CBD) while in Kitwe they dare the council police officers with whom they engage in running battles in the evening.

It is disheartening that the local authorities in the affected areas are well aware of the resurgence of street vending.

The failure to enforce the Local Government (Street Vending and Nuisances) amended regulations 2018 is a clear sign of chronic deficiency that is deeply entrenched in local authorities.

In any case, the councils should have taken a hard-line stance against illegal traders because their return to designated trading areas entailed more revenue. More of them have to pay market levy, hence a boost to the council coffers.

Secondly, the removal of vendors from the streets placated the indiscriminate disposal of waste.

The level of cleanliness improved significantly while garbage collection has become an orderly exercise because residents have to comply with the law by disposing waste in designated locations.

All this worked to the advantage of the local authorities.

Alas, it is ironical that the very councils which received the much needed tonic have slumbered.

In the past the councils cited political interference as the reason why they failed to regulate street vending.

Yes, the political elite were believed to have been shielding the vendors, but this is not the case today.

It is in fact the political will from the highest office in the land that prodded the councils to wake up and to begin regular collection of garbage and to regulate vending.

Sufficient laws are available after Local Government Minister Vincent Mwale on February 2, this year signed the SI number 10 of 2018 to amend penalties for 22 offences contained in SI 54 and increasing the penalty fees as well as introducing 33 new offences.

Selling of food on the streets attracts a penalty of K1, 500 while spitting in public attracts a fine of K100, throwing litter K500 and urinating in undesignated area K1, 500. Defecating in wrong location attracts a penalty fee of K2, 000.

Mending tyres on roadsides attracts a K500 fine while K1, 000 will be slapped on offenders operating unregistered taxis and those who park heavy vehicles in undesignated areas.

Many more offences are itemised in the amended SI.

Thus the councils have been given enough ammunition to deal with street vending and other transgressions.

Mayors Amon Chisenga and Christopher Kang’ombe for Ndola and Kitwe respectively must particularly enforce the new regulations and placate street vendors in totality.

Why have they slumbered!

PURSUING JUSTICE AND EQUITY WITH INTEGRITY