By SYLVESTER MWALE  –
THE flourishing street vending in Lusaka could be a blessing for many in the informal sector, but it is certainly a public health scare that needs urgent attention to avoid calamitous consequences.
Uncollected garbage generated from various merchandises on the street has made news headlines from the time the vendors were unleashed on streets.
But there is an untold story on how vendors relieve themselves without lavatories in the streets.
Interestingly, studies have shown that street vending poses a serious hazard to public health in that most of the food sold by vendors is sold in unhygienic conditions where it is displayed literary in pathways and drainage.
“If you go to City Market where there are some dirty public lavatories, you would be shocked that apples are sold at the door and people are buying and eating without washing their hands,” retorted Agnes Moonga, a teacher in Lusaka.
Recent media reports indicate that street kids have turned streets into both homes and lavatories. They have become big contributors to poor sanitation in the CBD as they defecate on the streets in the night.
On the other hand, the Government has admitted in the past that the issue of street vending has been giving them headache and needs urgent solution.
The Ministry of Local Government and Housing engaged a global consultancy firm, Deloitte & Touché, to do some research on the
problem last year, but it is not clear if anything has been done.
Apparently, in many circumstances, foodstuffs, including fruits and vegetables sold on the streets, have been exposed to flies and other dirty particles because they are rarely covered.
As if that is not bad enough, there is even a great concern that those handling such foods are not clean, while their merchandises have turned out to be a source of dirty littering the city.
A survey by the Sunday Times during the week revealed that the situation had been worsened by the fact that the increasing number of vendors has not been accompanied by inadequate sanitary facilities.
For instance, the heavily crowded Lusaka central business district (CBD), which has struggled to cope with vendors, has no public toilet while garbage has become the order of the day.
Additionally, although fee-paying, the few lavatories at City Market, Millennium Bus Station and the Post Office have fallen short of adequacy not only because of poor financial management by managers, but also failure to keep them clean.
“This is a public health disaster and I am wondering whether there is anything that is being done to bring sanity in the city,” said Alfred Zulu, a shop owner at the city centre.
“I am wondering where these women who are selling apples and vegetables are going to relieve themselves and whether they even wash their hands as they handle the fruits.”
Mr Zulu urged the Ministry of Health to work closely with the Ministry of Local Government and Housing through the Lusaka City Council (LCC) to find a lasting solution to street vending.
Admittedly, ordinary people see vending as an inconvenience and a hub for several mischief, including pick pocketing and illicit sex. But traders do not care less and have vowed to remain there for a long time.
“There are times that we have improvised the lavatories by using empty packets of opaque beer because there is nothing else we can do,” said one of the traders who did not want to be mentioned.
“We are here because there are no jobs, it is also difficult to sell inside the market and we are glad that the Government has allowed us to operate from the streets.”
Sipho Mulenga, a grade 12 pupil, said LCC should improve the number of lavatories in the city as well as educate the traders on the need to maintain high levels of hygiene.
“The council should be challenged to improve the number of  lavatories to avoid congestion and the vendors must be educated about personal hygiene,” Sipho said.
Observers say the sprawling city of Lusaka, which has also been characterised by poor planning and unplanned structures, may end up being a time bomb.
“We are living in a dangerous situation, which is a serious public health problem,” said Dr Robert Mtonga, a health expert. “If we are not careful, the whole city will be contaminated because this is a time bomb.
Dr Mtonga noted that street vending was illegal in Zambia and urged the local authority to bring sanity to avoid disease outbreaks.
“I know that the policy has allowed it but the law does not allow street vending. You have women that may be changing pads, while selling apples and yet there is no water to wash their hands,” Dr Mtonga said.
“This is dangerous because it means that they are passing the dirt to the consumers who are buying and eating those apples.”
The LCC notes that while the lavatories are inadequate in the city, there are efforts to secure places to build more public ablution blocks.
“But of course you should realise that we cannot have a toilet at every corner,” said LCC public relations manager Habeenzu Mulunda.
“You may be aware that we have one at City Market, another one at the post office and at Kulima Tower.”
Mr Mulunda, who acknowledged the danger of dirt created by the vendors, said the local authority was trying to secure more places where it could build more public lavatories in the city.
There has been a question as to whether street vending is illegal or otherwise, but that has probably been due to the seeming mix-up of understanding of the policy and law.
For instance, the political pronouncement has suggested that it is the policy of the Government to allow vendors trade freely without being punishment.
To the contrary, by and large, street vending is an illegal undertaking, according to Statutory Instrument (SI) number 44 of 2007.
In this regard, the SI categorically explains that throwing litter on, or along a street, or prescribed road, or defecating in any unauthorised place can attract different penalties.
Therefore, the issue appears to be whether the policy supersedes the law or it is the other way round.
While debate to establish the fact could prolong, there is little doubt that the flourishing street vending in Lusaka has provided opportunities and health scare in equal measure.
It is only hoped that as the country struggles to improve its sanitation, adequate toilets will be provided to prevent diseases and prolong people’s lives, while promoting health through organised efforts and informed choices.