By MAIMBO MWEEMBA
Chingola Municipal Council has closed 158 incomplete, abandoned shops which are believed to have been used by criminals as hideouts.
And, Chingola Municipal Council Assistant Public Relations Manager Nambela Kyombela said the Department of Housing and Social Services made this discovery yesterday by close of business.
Mr Kyombela said that Chilemba Market has the highest number of incomplete/abandoned shops totaling to 66, followed by Gibson Chifwembe with 37 shops, SNDP had 34, Mimbula 17 and Kasompe four.
She said the Local Authority has embarked on such an exercise to completely eradicate the health risks associated with these spaces as they are used as dump sites by unscrupulous individuals and hide- outs for criminals.
“The Local Authority is hereby calling on owners of the incomplete/abandoned shops in the aforementioned places to come to Civic Centre (Room F32) starting from April 25, to May 15, 2022 from 09:00 hours-16:00hours with documents from Chingola Municipal Council confirming ownership,” she said.
Ms Kyombela said the Council has also warned that failure to comply with this exercise will result in the repossession of the said shops.
