STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT REGARDING THE REMOVAL OF STREET VENDORS FROM UNDESIGNATED TRADING AREAS.
As you are aware the Ministry of Health made pronouncements that there is a very high risk of an outbreak of diarrheal diseases such as cholera around this time of the year due to unsanitary conditions in trading places. The Ministry of Health further advised the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to put in place a response mechanism to address this issue. In response, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development on Friday 13th January 2023 directed that street vendors be removed from undesignated trading areas.
In line with this, stakeholders have indicated that adequate time and information was not given in relation to how this would proceed. Consequent to this feedback, His Excellency the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema called for a meeting at State House to review the earlier position. In agreeing with stakeholder, the President has guided that further consultations take place.
Therefore, the clearing process of street vendors from undesignated areas will not take place as scheduled on Monday, 16th January 2023, to allow for further consultations to take place among stakeholders which include but not limited to, traders, local authorities, health authorities and government. We will engage the affected in order to arrive at a consensus and prepare for a smooth re-migration into the designated areas. On Monday 16th January 2023, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development will therefore start the consultation process by holding a meeting with all the seven MPs and Councillors in the city of Lusaka.
We also wish to announce that Friday 20th January 2023 has been designated as a day for cleaning the trading places and the streets by all stakeholders across the country. We therefore call upon local authorities, street vendors, marketeers and the business community to join the cleaning of trading places and markets.
Our appeal goes to all traders, business community, churches, CSOs, NGOs and other stakeholders to join in order to arrive at a permanent solution to this matter which is of national interest.
End.
14 January 2023