VENDORS MUST NOT DRAG MWEWA CHITAMBALA TO COURT — HE IS WORKING FOR LUSAKA

By Mupishi Jones

My fellow Zambians, I have seen the story circulating that street vendors want to sue Mayor-Elect Mwewa Chitambala over loss of business.

With respect to our mothers and fathers selling on the streets, this is not fair.

Mr. Mwewa Chitambala did not wake up to punish anyone. He is trying to bring order to Lusaka. For years we have all complained that Lusaka has become filthy, that streets have become markets, that cars cannot move. Now when a leader tries to fix it, we want to sue him?

The vendors are saying they lost fish and meat because they were removed without notice. But let us be honest — the call to move to designated markets has been there for a long time. This government has been pleading with our vendors. Markets have been built. CDF has built more markets.

You cannot claim you were not given notice when the law has always said street vending is not allowed.

And let us protect the truth — perishable goods going bad is painful, yes. We sympathize. But that is why we are saying, let us all work together and move into the markets where there is water, storage and sanitation, not sue the man trying to help you.

Mayor-Elect Mwewa Simon Chitambala means well for this city. He wants a clean, working Lusaka for all of us. He is not against vendors. He is against disorder.

Instead of going to court to demand compensation, let us sit down as a family. Let the council speed up allocation of trading spaces. Let vendors be patient. Court cases will not bring back fish. Dialogue will bring solutions.

We support Mr. Mwewa Chitambala. Let us give him a chance to work.

Mupishi Jones
Political Analyst
0977480386