Shop owners must own up

Dear Editor, AS part of the keep Lusaka clean campaign, shop owners were last year directed to paint their shops and clean the surroundings. But despite the directive, many shops have not received a coat of paint and are still an eyesore.

Why don’t business owners want to paint their buildings as if they are not making money? It is only fair that they adhere to the directive.

Right now, some shops are an eyesore because of the paint colours used. People should not paint for the sake of it but it must be done neatly to ensure the buildings look appealing.

But this should not just end on painting, shop owners can where possible put pavers around their shops and make it a point that the surroundings were also cleaned.

The Lusaka City Council should also do something about some substandard and incomplete buildings in the city that were blemishing the image of the city.

Some buildings like the one in the CBD with a long crane has remained incomplete for decades now. What is the council doing about this because the structure poses a danger to the public,

I urge the council to revisit the issue of this building and many others that need attention. The council should ensure that buildings being put up in the city meet the required standards in line with the Town and Country Planning Act.

Allowing people come up with illegal and substandard structures is what is causing not only problems but take away the beauty of the city.

HENDRIX KATEBE, Lusaka.