• A SEA of marketeers, street vendors, bus and taxi drivers march through Kitwe town centre in a procession to honour late President Michael Sata yesterday.
Picture by MOFFAT CHAZINGWA

By MOFFAT CHAZINGWA –

HUNDREDS of marketeers, street vendors, bus and taxi drivers in Kitwe yesterday suspended business and held a funeral procession round town to mourn late Republican President Michael Sata.

The informal workers first converged near Shoprite on Matuka Avenue in the morning around 10:00 hours and later proceeded to After Ten roundabout along Independence Avenue where they sang solemn songs before embarking on the procession round town.

The funeral procession, which started from the After Ten roundabout going all the way to Ox-Ford Road and President Avenue, before finishing at the District Administration block, brought the town to a standstill as workers abandoned their offices to catch a glimpse of the mourners who were mostly dressed in black.

The informal workers were led by leaders of their respective associations, the National Traders and Marketeers Association of Zambia (NATMAZ), United Street Vendors Foundation Co-operate Society and, Bus and Taxi Drivers Association of Zambia.
NATMAZ president Goodson Mofya said in a message of condolences delivered to Kitwe District Commissioner Elias Kamanga that they were mourning President Sata because he did a lot to help improve the welfare of widows, orphans and the poor.

Mr Mofya said the majority in the markets are poor people whom President Sata dedicated his life to serve.

Street Vendors Foundation representative Gladys Chibele said President Sata treated the vendors like his own children and that this was evident when he directed the councils in the country to stop harassing them.

Ms Chibele said the welfare of vendors under President Sata improved to the extent where they managed to put bread and butter on the table for their families.

Bus and Taxi drivers Association of Zambia Kitwe district chairperson Wilson Nyaenda said his members would forever remember President Sata for his commitment towards development of road infrastructure countrywide.

“Our business operations have improved because of the good road network President Sata constructed and as drivers, we are greatly indebted to him,” he said.

Mr Kamanga, who later addressed the informal workers, called for peace and unity during the period of mourning.

He said the best way to mourn President Sata was for people to observe peace and unity in the nation.

The informal workers later in the day held a mass service at St Margarets Church in Town in honour of Mr Sata.