Celebrations follow Sata's directive on street vending

Celebrations follow Sata's directive on street vending
By Fridah Nkonde in Ndola
Sat 17 Dec. 2011, 13:59 CAT

STREET vendors in Ndola yesterday went into wild jubilation following President Michael Sata's order that councils countrywide should let street vendors and those operating car wash points run their business without interference.

A check by The Post found street vendors singing, dancing, and transferring their merchandise from the market stands to the streets. In a letter dated December 10, 2011 to town clerks obtained by The Post, President Sata stated that chasing vendors would make PF unpopular and that he was displeased over the mistreatment of street vendors and ordered a stop to their harassment.

In an interview, Kabwe Mwenya, a vendor in second-hand clothes, said President Sata had fought for them and that he was a President who had a heart for the poor.

"We are very happy and thankful to our President for allowing us continue with our business. We will continue voting for him because he has shown us that he loves the Zambians," she said.

Mwenya said street vendors had suffered at the hands of the councils and that they had made a lot of losses because council police used to confiscate their merchandise.

And another vendor Wamba Lungu, said it was good that President Sata allowed them to continue with their businesses because they were the ones that campaigned and voted for him.

Lungu who was on his knees when talking said he was speechless and happy because his business was going to flourish.

Meanwhile, 15-year-old vendor Edward Mbewe said he was confident of completing school with President Sata's pronouncement.

"We used to operate very well on the streets but the council started harassing us. I am in grade nine and I am on the streets because I want to raise money for school. I don't have anyone to pay for my fees and I so much want to be educated hence being a street vendor," said Edward.

In his letter, President Sata said councils should concentrate on their core functions on behalf of the people they were elected to serve.

"I am very disappointed with you. Local government does not mean only chasing people from streets or car washes. Those are the people we promised to give employment of which we have not done so. Yet they are using initiative to create employment for themselves," President Sata stated.

He added that local government was fast growing and needed to be re-organised.
"Local government is a very fast growing organisation which you need to re-organise other than concentrating on harassing innocent vendors and car wash operators which will lead to our party being more unpopular," he stated.

President Sata ordered that the harassment of vendors and car wash operators should immediately come to an end.