By KETRA KALUNGA
The UPND government has been advised to handle the issue of street vendors carefully and not in an elitist manner because these are ordinary people trying to earn a living, New Heritage Party President Chishala Kateka warns UPND administration.
Local government minister, Garry Nkombo last week directed street vendors in Lusaka to vacant the streets with immediate effect but was met with resistance from the vendors who claimed that they were not notified.
And Ms. Katake has said much as every Zambian would want to see cleanliness in town, the government should treat people trading on the streets in a humane manner and with empathy notwithstanding that the act is illegal.
She explained in an interview that the Patriotic Front (PF) regime didn’t only allow people to trade in the streets but also directed the local authorities to collect revenue so they thought street vending was legal.
Ms. Kateka described the recent action from Local Government and Rural Improvement minister Garry Nkombo as arrogant because the vendors were not engaged through their representatives.
“The timing first of all from Mr. Nkombo was wrong and he was also arrogant. He should have first engaged them because all this shows that they are not thinking about the sufferings of the people. Now I understand why they are called an elitist government,” she said.
She said it was wrong for the minister to refuse to listen to the vendors on the streets when he in the first place issued the directive for them to vacate the streets without warning.
Ms. Kateka said the UPND administration has the right to govern the country in the best way they know how but should always remember that Zambians are watching.
Handle vendors with care – Kateka
