The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Hon Gary Nkombo, MP, today, 1st August, 2024, officiated at the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the ultra-modern Munyaule Market in Lusaka at a cost of $8 million.
Once completed, the trading facility will accommodate more than 900 traders. This marks another significant occasion that symbolizes the New Dawn Government’s commitment to enhancing the livelihoods of the Zambian people.
Munyaule Market started as a temporary trading area for traders who had been displaced from the gutted City Market in July, 2017. About 220 traders were allocated trading spaces by the Lusaka City Council with the understanding that they would be relocated to the City Centre market upon its rehabilitation.
When the City centre market was completed and traders from Munyaule Market were relocated, some opted to remain. Therefore, the number of traders at Munyaule market increased overtime to over 900 traders operating in the space by 2024.
However, Munyaule market has existed without appropriate trading infrastructure and amenities from the time it was identified as a temporary trading space.
In the year-2017, Munyaule market was declared an epicentre for Cholera by the Ministry of Health. What followed was pronouncements by the Government of the day to demolish the structures and relocate the traders to more appropriate trading areas.
However, these interventions were not actualised and the traders continued to operate in unsanitary conditions with inappropriate infrastructure.
The New Dawn Government is cognisant of the challenges faced at Munyaule market due to its informality which, if left unresolved, would have continued to pose a threat to the health of the traders and the public at large.
It is against this background that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, through the Lusaka City Council, has undertaken to develop an ultra-modern market with the necessary amenities in order to provide a conducive trading environment for the traders and the general public.
Speaking during the ground-breaking ceremony, Hon Nkombo stated that the modern market would be developed through a lease with Kaddoura Construction Limited, and Lusaka City Council.
The Minister stated that, once completed, the new market will significantly enhance the quality of life for traders and communities at large.
Hon Nkombo expressed happiness that, by providing a modern and well-organised market, the Government is not only enhancing economic opportunities, but also ensuring better health and safety standards for everyone involved.
“This is critical if we are to avoid future outbreaks of diseases such as Cholera and permanently eliminate the threat of Munyaule market being the epicentre of diseases,” Hon Nkombo stated.
In order for this project to take off, the Minister emphasised that it was necessary for the Government, through the Lusaka City Council, to move the traders from to temporary trading areas.
He commended the Council for taking the critical steps to accommodate the affected traders in the temporary trading areas behind the BH Market and the new Soweto Market.
The traders would conduct business in those two markets as they awaited the development of the modern market at Munyaule.
Meanwhile, Lusaka Mayor Her Worship Ms Chilando Chitangala stated that the construction of the ultra modern market symbolises hope, particularly the women and the youth, who make up the bulk of traders in Lusaka.
The contractor, Kaddoura Construction Limited Chairperson, Mr. Hazem Kaddoura assured the people of Zambia that his Company would expedite the construction works in order to provide a decent trading area for the traders
