The National Association for Marketeers Disabled Traders and Vendors of Zambia has expressed dismay over the demolition of Munyaule Market, situated behind Lusaka City Market, which resulted in the dispersal of nearly 1, 000 marketeers.
Association Vice President Astone Sakala has described the demolition as shocking and discourteous, with some traders waking up to find their stores destroyed, leading to significant financial losses amounting to millions of Kwacha.
Mr. Sakala explained that the Lusaka City Council had allocated the market to traders in 2007 and issued them with offer letters, but the matter remained unresolved in court. Despite being given a one-month notice of demolition, the local authority initiated the demolition at night, leaving traders insufficient time to remove their goods.
Appealing to the government for assistance, Mr. Sakala has urged authorities to consider the plight of affected marketeers by providing alternative trading spaces, as many depend on their businesses for their livelihoods.
