Priority To Be Given To Displaced Manyaule Market Traders – Chinika Ward Councillor
Chinika Ward 11 Councillor in Kanyama Constituency, Masautso D. Ngoma, says traders who occupied the former Manyaule Market should be given priority when trading spaces are allocated at the newly constructed Big Mama Market.
Councillor Ngoma says the new market has been constructed on the same site where the former Manyaule Market stood, making it important for traders who were displaced during the redevelopment to be considered first.
“The traders who occupied the old Munyaule Market must be given priority when trading spaces are allocated at the new Big Mama Market. These are people who were displaced because of the construction, and it is only fair that they are considered first,” Councillor Ngoma said.
He said one-hundred-and-forty-eight offer letters have already been issued to traders who were displaced during the construction of the new market.
Councillor Ngoma said the former market had about nine-hundred-and-twenty trading stalls, of which three-hundred-and-twenty traders were provided with alternative trading spaces during the construction period.
He said this left about six-hundred traders without alternative trading spaces, adding that the affected traders will be prioritised when trading spaces are allocated at the new market.
Councillor Ngoma said a formal call for applications has already been made to allow traders to apply for shops and other available trading spaces at the facility.
He further explained that the new market has been developed through a Public-Private Partnership under a Build, Operate and Transfer -BOT- model.
“The market will initially be in the hands of the private developer, Kadoura, which will operate and manage the facility and collect rentals. Once the developer has recouped its investment, the market will be handed over to the Lusaka City Council in line with the Build, Operate and Transfer agreement,” he said.
Councillor Ngoma thanked President Hakainde Hichilema for supporting Public-Private Partnerships, saying the model has enabled the Lusaka City Council to facilitate the construction of the market despite limited public resources.
He said Public-Private Partnerships provide an avenue for local authorities to deliver infrastructure and improve public services without relying entirely on their own financial resources.