By IREEN MULENGA
Kitwe City Council has secured an alternative trading space for street vendors operating from Pick ‘n’ Pay, Shoprite and Salvation Army on Matuka Avenue.
Kitwe Town Clerk Mbulo Seke said that the Local Authority has provided trading spaces for all of them in Chisokone Market.
Mr Seke said that the Local Authority has gone out of its way by allowing ungazetted street vending on Chisokone one way in order to help vendors do some business at a time schedule to be agreed by the marketeers and vendors.
“The Local Authority will soon be lighting up Chisokone One Way Street in order to increase vending hours on that street. We, therefore, wish to place it on record that Kitwe City Council has not removed any street vendors from Chisokone One Way.
“Members of the public may wish to know that the Council every year, construct at least a market shelter in Chisokone Market in order to provide more and more trading spaces for the unserved traders including street vendors,” he said.
He said the local Authority has designated soon to be gazetted markets streets in various parts of the city including, Mufuchani Bridge, KCC Bus Stop, St. Anthony, Twibukishe Market, Luangwa Morning Market, Luangwa Stage 2, Kampwena, Kapenta Market and Malembeka.
Mr Seke said the Local Authority this year earmarked to construct sanitation facilities at these places to provide decent trading environment.
“We further encourage the vendors and other unemployed youths that, other than street vending, they could consider forming enterprises and explore the business opportunities offered by the solid waste business sector that has a huge potential of creating jobs and wealth. The Local Authority does facilitate the issuance of solid waste management permits to registered enterprises,” he said.
