The United Party for National Development (UPND) has backed Lusaka City Council (LCC) through Mayor Chitambala Mwewa’s efforts to restore order, enforce by-laws and remove illegal trading activities from the Central Business District (CBD).
UPND Secretary General Batuke Imenda said the party supported the council as the ultimate authority responsible for cleanliness, public health and orderly business operations in the city.
Mr Imenda said the party would not support street vending by people masquerading as UPND members by wearing party regalia.
He said the party had established that about 8,120 people were operating as street vendors, despite an assessment showing about 14,000 abandoned trading spaces in markets, leaving about 8,000 spaces available for traders.
Mr Imenda said UPND members understood the party’s position that street vending in the CBD compromises cleanliness and can contribute to disease outbreaks.
“Street vending creates a bad image for investment. We are very clear that we will not allow street vending to continue and we are supporting the council in its operations to maintain cleanliness and business order in the CBD,” he said.
And Citizens First outgoing Central Committee member Stanley Mhango has praised Lusaka Mayor Mr Mwewa for taking steps to remove traders, minibus operators and taxis operating from undesignated places.
Mr Mhango said the enforcement of local authority by-laws was long overdue and should not be politicised.
He said illegal trading had deprived the city of revenue and contributed to public-health risks, including the spread of preventable diseases such as cholera.
