Illegal street vendors in Chipata have reacted angrily to Chipata Municipal Council’s seven days ultimatum to stop trading in specified areas around the town.
The vendors have been told to stop trading from Great East Road, Umodzi Highway, Mwami road, Kafula road and Church road among others.
The vendors told Breeze News that they will not vacate the streets because that’s where they find good business.
The vendors wondered why the local authority is asking them to vacate the streets when they are collecting levy every day from them.
And some of the vendors asked Chipata Municipal Council to find them alternative places where they can trade from as the markets have no space to accommodate the more than 1,000 traders who are in the streets.
But when contacted for a comment, Saturday Market vice Chairperson Florida Lungu refuted claims by vendors that the markets have no space.
Ms. Lungu noted that about 40 vendors from different parts of Chipata town have been given trading spaces in the market, which still has a lot of trading space.
Ms. Lungu welcomed the decision by the council to remove vendors from streets, stating that it will lessen accidents as well as bring sanity in Chipata town.