Mwale warns erring shop owners

Thu, 18 Jan 2018 10:21:31 +0000

By KALOBWE BWALYA

 SHOPS in Kamwala trading area and Central business District that fail to meet hygiene standards will not be opened, Local Government and Housing Minister Vincent Mwale has warned.

In an interview with the Daily Nation, Mr Mwale warned shop owners who have defied the directive that they risked having their trading licenses revoked if they were found wanting of frustrating Government’s efforts in curbing the cholera fight and the “Keep Zambia Clean campaign programme.

Mr Mwale said the shops would only re-open after being inspected by authorities from the ministry of Health and Lusaka City Council upon meeting the criteria.

Mr Mwale said some shops did not have proper toilet facilities while some had no running water posing a health hazard to both the workers and customers.

He said shops and markets that had been re-opened have met the required standards and Government will not allow people defying the law.

“Shops in Kamwala trading area and central business district would only be re-opened after being cleared by health inspectors from the council after painting their shops among other things and we will not allow anyone going against the law,” said Mr Mwale.

And Mr Mwale has warned vendors who have started conducting business at City market and other areas in the central business district to stop and go back to their respective trading markets as directed.

Mr Mwale also directed market masters in all council markets across the country to ensure that traders and vendors operated inside the market and not along corridors.

He said he will ensure that the men in uniform helped to enforce the law if the council police officers were under staffed.

Yesterday, a check by Daily Nation found some shops operating at Kamwala and in the CDB, while vendors at city market were conducting business on the corridors and parking spaces.