By NATION REPORTER
NDOLA City Council has banned street vending, just as the church has voluntarily suspended services to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.
Council public relations manager Tilyenji Mwanza said personal and environmental hygiene was key in prevention of COVID-19.
Ms Mwanza said all public places including shopping malls, markets, other trading places, bus stations, offices, and other congregate settings were mandated to ensure the cleaning of surroundings and proper management of waste.
“We would like to reaffirm and remind traders in the central business district that street vending is banned,” she said.
Ms Mwanza said all street vendors in the Central Business District were expected to vacate the streets and occupy designated markets and trading spaces with immediate effect.
She warned that any person who fails to comply with the directives prescribed would be committing an offence and was liable, on conviction to a fine or imprisonment.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Church in Lusaka,the Council of Churches (CCZ) and the Anglican church among others have suspended all services and masses until further notice.
Archbishop of Lusaka Alick Banda said the decision also applied to other parish activities and celebrations, in a wake of the outbreak of the covid-19.
Archbishop Banda said churches might remain open for private prayer and adoration as long as the health and safety of the community could be scrupulously safeguarded.
“In these trying moments, I strongly urge our priests to be available to the people entrusted to their care and ingeniously accompanying them in their spiritual needs,” he said.
Archbishop Banda said to the fact that the coronavirus pandemic had come closer and faster than earlier thought, it was important for people to adhere to health guidelines.
He noted that some people were not still following those guidelines.
And CCZ secretary general, Emmanuel Chikoya said people should pray from home and use the time to review their role in the community as they pray against the virus.
Vendors, churches locked out
