Street vendors nod move not to be ejected from streets

Zambia Drivers Vendors Association (DRIVEMA) president Stanley Kawisha has praised government for rescinding the decision to remove vendors from the streets.

Reacting to President Hakainde Hichilema’s directive to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to halt the exercise to remove street vendors until further consultations are held with relevant stakeholders, Mr. Kawisha has observed that the informal sector has absorbed a large population of unemployed people.

He explained that the majority who are youths and women work on streets to generate income.

However the organization has disclosed that it is working with street vendors in Ndola to ensure that they maintain sanity on the streets.

Mr Kawisha further disclosed that the organisation has heightened sensitization among its members to observe public health rules amid increase of Covid-19 cases.

Last week Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Minister Garry Nkombo directed local authorities across the country to remove street vendors from the Central Business District (CBD) in an effort to prevent the outbreak of Cholera and other water borne diseases.