Vendors quit, clean streets

Mon, 01 Jan 2018 10:36:02 +0000

HUNDREDS of streets vendors in Lusaka yesterday morning complied with President Lungu’s directive to clean up the rubbish which has fanned the spread of cholera in the city.

Under watchful eyes of combined defence forces, the vendors started the cleaning as early as 05:00 hours and none of them was allowed to display their merchandise, which range from foodstuffs and clothes, to various alcoholic beverages, especially the infamous high potent spirits popularly known as tujilijili or junta.

On Friday President Lungu ordered the closure of the filthy ridden Soweto market, regarded as the main breeding centre for cholera, and the removal of vendors from the street.

But in a show of remorse and newly found commitment to adhere to hygiene, the vendors led the way in clearing litter from the streets, corridors and clogged drainages before combined defence forces cleaners joined in the exercise.

At Soweto market, the situation was same but worked to most traders’ dismay, especially those that had thronged the sprawling market from various townships to make early morning orders, as they were turned away with empty baskets.

The cleanup also inconvenienced ordinary commuters as the main City market bus station was sealed off to prevent people from having direct access to Soweto market.

Bus drivers had to load passengers on the roads but this was only at the mercy of military men who had swarmed the central business district in the early hours of yesterday.

It was a rare sight in Lusaka which has seen a rapid surge in the street vendors’ population, with the corresponding billow in heaps of garbage, some of which remained uncollected for months.