WE are surprised that marketeers at Kitwe’s Chisokone Market are being advised to resist plans by the Kitwe City Council to demolish about 200 shops to pave way for new ones.Those agitating for the marketeers to object to what we believe are progressive plans are doing so for selfish reasons.
They would rather the confusion pertaining at the bustling market continue, with shops constructed haphazardly with without any safety concerns.The plans by the Kitwe City Council to demolish the 200 shops it has identified are meant to improve the market and create a conducive trading environment for the marketeers.
Mr Enock Chifuka, the former Zambia National Marketeers Association general secretary says traders at Chisokone market should resist and reject the council’s decision to demolish their shops because that would mean they would have to start renting to the local authority.“Chisokone market has been our working place and so, we should remain united and reject the council decision to demolish more than 200 shops so that they construct new ones because if we allow that, it will mean that we will start renting to the local authority and consequently, we will lose the shops,’’ Mr Chifuka said.
In the first place, the shops Mr Chifuka is referring to are illegal structures constructed by the traders over the years.They do not even have any legal documentation to show that the land on which they are built belongs to them. That is land owned by the council.The fire that broke out at Chisokone Market last month should impress upon the marketeers to have proper structures.
The fear that they would be compelled to rent the shops that would be constructed by the local authority should not be the main reason to stand in the way of progress.
The reality is that Chisokone Market in its present state is a death trap if a major fire was to break out. It is a health hazard as well.The hundreds of so-called shops do not even have running water. Electrical connections are not something to sing about either, having been done illegally.
If anything, market stalls are meant for small-scale traders such that even the rentals that are charged can be afforded by anyone.It is wrong for Mr Chifuka to say that marketeers should brace for battle with the authorities over the planned demolitions, that they should not be cowards.
There is nothing cowardly about accepting the council’s plans to demolish the unwanted structures to pave way for proper shops.He should be reminded that marketeers stand to gain in the long run for having proper shops will make it easy for them to insure their businesses against burglary and fire to mitigate against any disaster.
The marketeers should instead be united in supporting the council to build new shops that will enable them to trade in a safe environment not only for themselves but their customers as well.They should support positive changes.
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