By HOPE BWALYA –
THE Patriotic Front (PF) has donated K60,000 towards the refurbishiment of the gutted Lusaka City Market.
Meanwhile, Vice-President Inonge Wina said the Government appreciated the efforts made by the party in responding to the plight of the affected marketeers.
Ms Wina said this when she received the donation in Lusaka yesterday.
“The donation made today will in many ways help the Committee of the Council of Ministers (CCM) to ensure the works continue and do not stop,” the Vice-President said. “We hope it will be a stronger and resilient market that should not be prone to calamities like what we experienced in the past.”
Ms Wina, who is chairperson of the CCM, said the reconstruction was only viable with the help from such stakeholders.
PF Secretary General Davies Mwila said the party was standing with and for the traders whose livelihood was affected by the fire.
Mr Mwila said the PF was a pro-poor party and was committed to seeing that the market was rebuilt in the quickest time possible.
He challenged business houses and other players to come on board and render their support.
Mr Mwila also commended the police for tightening security that had reduced the rate of incidences of arson and sabotage in the country.
Several stakeholders have come on board to contribute towards the reconstruction of the market, which had over 4,000 traders affected.
The rebuilding of the market was pegged at K90 million, of which one new trading structure would be built at Simon Mwewa Lane and another at the Old Soweto Market.  Both will be two-storey build-ings.