THE Zambia Micro and Small trader’s foundation Cooperatives has welcomed the move by President Hakainde Hichilema to halt the removal of vendors from the streets pending further engagements.
Last week, after a meeting with President Hichilema, Lusaka Mayor and some Members of Parliament, Local Government and Rural Development Minister Gary Nkombo told journalists that the removal of vendors as per his directive would be halted to allow for more consultations with different stakeholders.
And now, the Zambia Micro and Small traders’ foundation cooperative says the decision to halt the removal of vendors from the streets was a welcome move because according to them, the decision by Mr Nkombo was too sudden.
Foundation president Teddy Sinkala said vendors needed to be given time and in the long run membership cards so that they were able to trade freely.
Mr Sinkala said the vendors relied on their businesses for survival hence the need for their removal from the streets to be handled amicably without confrontation and injuring their businesses.
And the United Party for National Development (UPND) deputy national youth chairman Trevor Mwiinde said removing vendors from the streets without any alternative would have been a political blunder by Mr Nkombo.
Mr Mwiinde has commended President Hichilema for overturning the decision of Mr Nkombo to remove vendors from all undesignated trading places around the Country.
Mr Mwiinde said it would have been suicidal to remove the vendors without finding alternatives because they were a part of the larger informal sector that also made up the larger voting bloc.
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