TODAY’S article is a follow up to last week’s piece which looked at the rate of influx of imported vehicles into the country and the challenges associated with this trend.
The article generated a degree of interest among the readers, with some suggesting that I make a follow up on the topic.
In response to the proposal, I have decided to look at the positive and negative impact of the influx of vehicles on the country’s roads and parking space as a continuation to what we looked at last week.
Automechanics, auto-electrical, auto body shop involving panel beating and spray painting business individuals have now mushroomed on every corner in the streets of Lusaka offering their services to motorists who cannot afford to take their vehicles into garages for servicing.
This is as a result of the upswing of vehicles being driven on the roads in the city.
The business opportunities for individual operators who have taken advantage of the situation at hand have risen.
Recently a friend’s car had the alarm system fitted from the street by a well trained auto electrician who is now self employed and operates from the streets.
When I inquired on the charges for the service rendered, I learnt that he had paid much less than what he could have paid, had he gone to companies dealing in alarm systems for vehicles.
At one time as I drove in one streets thronging with young men offering services ranging from panel beating, spray painting, auto mechanics, I was directed to park my vehicle.
I was reminded that the front bumper to my car had come out and when I asked how much
it would cost to have it repaired, I was amazed with how affordable the cost for this repair was and the job was done with so much expertise.
The influx of motor vehicles in the country has also opened business opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) who are now self-employed and operate on the streets.
Last Wednesday when the article came out I received a call from a man within Lusaka who was also equally impressed with the article.
He told me that in developed countries nearly every individual in gainful employment or in a business possesses a car and that issues of traffic congestion on the roads and the lack of parking space especially in central places within town are not of any concern.
Reason being that the local authority planners have addressed this issue effectively!
When I inquired how this thorny problem has been addressed in his country, he informed me that every parking space is controlled either by the council or private companies.
He explained that the councils had come up with exorbitant charges that do not permit one to park for more than an hour at the same spot.
The offshoots of influx of vehicles resulting from the scramble for parking space are the business opportunities thrown to car washing businesses.
While organised car wash companies are claiming the business share, individual car washers are equally claiming their business share too.
One busy street sometimes houses 30 individual car washers who at times control the parking space by ensuring that they give space to their prospective customers.
Wheel-barrow pushers cannot be left out in this scenario in the sense that they are always at hand to offer services to transport purchased goods from shops to waiting vehicles covering short distances.
However these kinds of business opportunities do not come about without challenges.
Operating in the streets is not legal and this is one area in which the council is given homework in dealing with these sprawling businesses without papers.
It is equally risky to conduct such businesses in the streets for a number of reasons such as lack of insurance in case of accidents.
I would suggest that the local authorities should conduct feasibility studies on how to regularise such kind of street businesses that have come about because of the influx of vehicles.  For any information contact 0950458228 or email wklpublications699@mail.com