ADAMANT CHISOKONE TRADERS HAVE MULTIPLE SHOPS
By NATION REPORTER SOME traders at Chisokone market in Kitwe have charged that only those who have more than one shop and are renting them out to foreigners are against the construction of a modern market at vast trading area.
Bruno Mulubwa said those who have more than one shop were inciting other traders to reject the construction of a modern market because they were making money from renting out their shops to foreigners.
Recently, Government announced the plan to construct three modern markets at Chisokone, Kapalala in Ndola and another one in Lusaka with the help of Zambia Chamber of Mines.
Mr Mulubwa said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that those with more than one shop at Chisokone market were fully aware that a modern market would effectively end multiple ownership of stalls and shops.
"I think it is unfair for any individual or group of individuals to incite marketeers to reject the construction of a modern market because they want to continue making money from the shops they are renting out to foreigners,” Mr Mulubwa said.
Mr Mulubwa said building a modern market at Chisokone market should be every Kitwe resident's dream of the future, although it was now looking difficult for some marketeers to understand.
"Yes, it is looking difficult because we are used to seeing it in that way but the question is, for how long do we intend to keep Chisokone market as undeveloped as it is?
"People and indeed, leaders at various levels, should tell marketeers about the beauty of having a modern market because we all know that the future of our children is more important than ours," He said.
Last month, Local Government Minister Vincent Mwale said government would not impose a modern market at Chisokone market in Kitwe if the traders were comfortable with the current state of the market.
During a meeting with leaders of market associations and other stakeholder at Kitwe Civic Centre, Mr Mwale said government's intention of constructing a modern market was aimed at improving hygiene and ensuring a high quality infrastructure.