Don’t tolerate street vending - MoH
STREET vending must not be tolerated as it increased the burden on the Ministry of Health once there was an outbreak of waterborne diseases, spokesperson Abel Kabalo has said.
Recently Patriotic Front secretary-general Davies Mwila directed the Lusaka City Council not to stop vendors from trading in the central business district (CBD).
But the Minister of Local Government Vincent Mwale reminded the vendors in his statement that the ban on street vending was in effect and no one would be allowed to trade in the CBD.
And yesterday Youth Activist Twaambo Mutinta said Mr Mwila undermined President Edgar Lungu when he directed that street vendors should continue trading in CBD.
Mr Mutinta said in an interview yesterday that it was unacceptable for Mr Mwila to undermine the higher authority.
He said the directive by Mr Mwila was misguided because the Head of State effected the ban of vending to prevent the outbreak of diseases such as cholera.
Mr Mutinta said the PF secretary general must respect the Head of State by honouring his decisions meant to bring sanity in the country.
Dr Kabalo in an interview yesterday with the Daily Na
tion said the Ministry of Local Government must not entertain the vice to prevent the reoccurrence of waterborne diseases.
Dr Kabalo said the CBD where the vendors were trading from had few sanitary facilities, it would therefore cause the outbreak of deadly diseases.
“Our approach is multi-faceted and a line ministry in this case local government should ensure that street vending is mitigated. It is common knowledge that we have few sanitary facilities in the CBD,” Dr Kabalo said.