Mwewa says vendor protests will not stop relocation exercise

Earlier yesterday, some street vendors in Lusaka staged a protest against the Lusaka City Council directive requiring them to move from the streets into designated markets.

Responding to the protest, Mr. Mwewa pointed to the cleanliness of Simon Mwewa Lane, saying those responsible for the area are the same people cleaning the street.

“Look at how clean Simon Mwewa Lane is. We are the ones that clean this street,” Mr. Mwewa said.

He said the amount of protesting would not change the relocation exercise, adding that street vendors would still be required to move into designated markets.

“It doesn’t matter how much they protest, they are moving into the markets,” Mr. Mwewa said.

The Mayor-elect said the relocation is part of efforts to maintain clean and orderly streets while ensuring that traders operate from designated trading spaces.

The directive has recently seen some street vendors begin moving into markets, while some owners of illegal structures along Lumumba Road have also started removing structures built on top of drainage channels.