By Chiluba Chabi
Mongu Municipal Council (MMC) in conjunction with Zambia Police have removed Street Vendors from the streets in the Central Business District.
The Local Authority has also removed all mobile money booths and makeshifts stalls that have been erected in undesignated places like road reserves and those mounted on drainages.
And Mongu Council Public Relations Officer Abigail Sitenge said the operation was conducted in Mongu Central Business district, Mongu – Senanga Road and also along Mongu – Lusaka Road in accordance with the Local Government Act.
Ms Sitenge said on August 3, 2023, the Local Authority issued a Public Notice outlining intentions to remove vendors and later engaged all affected booth owners.
She said this measure was then followed by Radio announcements, public announcements and Community engagements with the affected vendors.
“A 21-day extension was later given to all vendors to relocate to establish Council markets and other designated trading areas. The Local Authority is happy to announce that so far, over 50 street vendors out of the 109 that were captured have moved into markets.
“As a Local Authority we wish to remind vendors and other interested parties that the Local Authority has enough trading spaces to accommodate all street vendors in Mongu and therefore, street vendors have no excuse to continue trading on the streets,” she said.
Ms Sitenge said affected and prospective mobile money booth owners have since been advised to engage the council through the Department of Planning before erecting any temporal structure.
She said Council Police Officers working together with State Police will continue to monitor compliance levels following the clean up yesterday.
Various Booth owners and operators stood in disbelief as the Local Authorities effected the SI.
