Citizens First Party (CF) Mufulira District Chairman Innocent Phiri has expressed concerns about the perceived decline of local markets in the district and nationwide, attributing this trend to competition from chain stores.
Mr. Phiri noted that consumers are increasingly purchasing items such as pounded groundnuts and common vegetables from chain stores instead of local markets. He urged the government to address this issue to protect local vendors, emphasising that certain products should be reserved for local marketeers.
He argued that while chain stores source from commercial farmers within Zambia, they do not buy from smallholder farmers, further disadvantaging them.
