I SANCTIONED VENDING AT CLINIC - COUNCILLOR

IAM aware of traders conducting their businesses outside Mulenga clinic premises because we allowed them so that we can complete the market project, Ndeke Ward Councillor Aaron Lungu has told the Daily Nation.

Marketeers at Mulenga market in Kitwe have for some time now been trading outside the clinic starting from the gate, a situation that has brought concern among clinic management as well as members of the community.

The health centre becomes second in the district from Chamboli clinic whose premises were also invaded by traders.

But the councillor explained that the council was working towards completion of the market shelter, hence, having granted the traders permission to trade at the clinic premises.

"We have allowed them to trade there for at least four months as we are working on their shelter. We regret the inconvenience that may be caused but it is the only place that we felt the traders could fit," the councillor said.

Mr Lungu said the traders would leave the clinic premises as soon as the shelter under construction was completed.

However, health workers at the centre, who opted to remain anonymous, complained that it was not healthy to have the place overcrowded especially in the wake of Covid-19 outbreak.

The health workers also complained that the traders were leaving the place untidy and made so much noise at the premises.

And members of the community complained that it was inconvenience for traders to invade the clinic when the environment should be kept clean and free from noise.

"The clinic is visited with a lot of people with different kinds of diseases and allowing customers to go there is a serious danger. We buy food, drinks among other food stuffs at the place that is why we do not feel safe," one of the community members Agrippah Lombe said.

Mr Lombe complained that cases of theft in houses near the health centre had become prevalent because of overcrowding.

Meanwhile, Kitwe City Council Town Clerk Mbulo Seke confirmed to the Daily Nation that a team of officers was dispatched to the area to clear the traders on grounds that the act constituted street vending.

He said that the traders would soon be cleared from the clinic premises.