Maravi

‘Chisokone Market issue will have serious repercussions’

‘Chisokone Market issue will have serious repercussions’
By Mwila Chansa
Thu 14 Jan. 2010, 04:00 CAT

LUXON Kazabu has warned that the issue of Chisokone Market will have serious repercussions if not properly handled.

And Kazabu has observed that the prevailing political environment in the country ahead of next year's tripartite elections is not good and has called for level-headedness amongst political players for a better environment to be created.

In an interview yesterday, Kazabu, who is former Kitwe mayor, observed that it would appear that part of the cause of the tension currently being experienced in Kitwe was as a result of President Rupiah Banda's directive to the Kitwe City Council to give Chisokone Market’s title deeds to the Zambia National Marketeers Association (ZANAMA).

“The powers that be should not take a simplistic approach towards the issue of Chisokone Market because it can result into very serious repercussions,” Kazabu warned. “If you give title deeds to a particular association- you tell me, we all know that they have a political disposition. They support the ruling party, what is going to happen to ZATMA and other associations? This is creating conditions for tension within the market.

“If the President wants to empower a certain individual, he is free and I have no quarrels with that. But he should not do it at the expense of local authorities that were established to serve all people without exception.”

He said the law was very clear on who was mandated to run markets and any directive contrary to existing laws amounted to bad governance.

Kazabu wondered which law allowed an association to run cells within a market, where people were beaten and tortured.
And Kazabu noted that hostilities appeared to have already started ahead of the 2011 elections.

He appealed to the top leadership within political parties to act with level headedness and ensure that they created an atmosphere that allowed every citizen to freely participate in the country's political life and above all, in next year's elections.
Kazabu said no one should be intimidated.

He condemned death threats on Catholic Diocese of Ndola Treasurer General Fr Augustine Mwewa.
"We should not kill each other just because of politics. If we do, who will take this country forward?" he asked.
Kazabu urged politicians to be tolerant and not misconstrue any form of criticism to be an insult.

"Can we have a clear definition of an insult? If I tell a lie, what should people call me other than a liar? There is no substitute for describing a person who tells a lie. There is need for us to be clear on what constitutes an insult," said Kazabu.

Labels: CHIKOSONE MARKET, MARKETEERS, ZANAMA

posted by MrK @ 5:14 AM