Chifubu traders complain of ‘undercutting’ foreigners
By NATION REPORTER MARKETEERS at Chifubu market in Ndola have appealed to Government to look into rapidly increasing number of Lebanese the at the market Zho are almost taking Xp selling simple commodities like Yegetables
Chifubu market chairperson Musonda Mushota said the complaints of his members were genuine and demanded for serious intervention.
He was speaking at the weekend after he called off a protest by marketeers against what they called unfair development.
"O ur members wanted to protest to show discontent against the Lebanese traders who are now selling human hair, vegetables and chickens including second hand clothes cheaper than the prices of common marketeers which disadvantages them for their only survival.
"But we advised our members that we will call the media for them to express their individual complaints in a good way so that we can persuade our able leaders in government to sort out the matter without causing commotion," Mr Mushota said.
He suggested that foreign investors could venture in businesses like manufacturing so as to empower the locals through job creation rather than competing in selling ordinary items with them.
And a second hand clothes trader lga Njobvu said she had been trading at the market since 192 but has not seen a foreign trader trying to undercut their businesses by pricing the items lower than their cost price.
"I buy a bale of second hand clothes at K1, 750. In order to maNe profit , sell a 7 shirt at K25. But these Lebanese come with containers of bales from their country and they sell the same T-shirts on retail at K15. Right now I have not sold anything since morning," she lamented.
Another trader Potipher Sabwalala asked councils not to permit foreign investors to trade from the markets in the townships.
Mr Sabwalala said in the townships most traders had small and in most cases borrowed capital which required to be paid back.
He wondered how loans would be paid back if they were subjected to unfair trade competition with foreign businessmen capable of running a wholesale in town.
And Fibobe Ward councillor Kondwani Winga said local marketeers should be protected from foreigners who were trading in markets.