By Francis Chipalo
The Lusaka City Council (LCC), under Mayor Simon Chitambala, has intensified the removal of street traders from Kamwala and other parts of the central business district, a move that has sparked mixed reactions.
For years, Kamwala, Lumumba Road, Cairo Road and surrounding areas have struggled with congestion as traders have taken up pavements, road reserves and drainage lines.
According to the Council, “Operation clear path” is aimed at restoring order, improving sanitation and easing movement for both pedestrians and motorists.
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City officials argue that uncontrolled street vending has:
1. Blocked walkways and caused traffic jams
2. Made garbage collection difficult and blocked drainages, worsening flooding
3. Created unfair competition for traders who pay for shops and market stalls
4. Raised safety and public health concerns in the CBD
From the Council’s perspective, a cleaner, more organized city will attract more investment, make Lusaka more navigable, and improve the image of Zambia’s capital, a good move right!
But for many traders, the streets are not a choice but a survival strategy.
Many of those affected say they have nowhere else to go. Formal markets like City Market, Kamwala Market and Luburma are either full, too expensive in rentals, or located far from where customers pass daily.
For single mothers, youths and the unemployed, a table in Kamwala can mean daily food, rent and school fees. Removal without an alternative, they argue, pushes them deeper into poverty.
Some residents also fear the move will push trading into residential areas like George Compound and Kanyama, creating new disorder there.
What are the possible effects?
Potential positives if managed well:
– Decongestion and freer movement in the CBD
– Improved cleanliness and reduced blocked drainages
– Better regulation and revenue collection from designated trading areas
– Improved safety for shoppers and shop owners
Potential negatives if no alternative is provided:
– Loss of income for thousands of vulnerable families
– Increase in poverty-driven crime and desperation
– Traders simply returning after a few weeks, making the exercise a cycle
– Growing public resentment towards the Council and Mayor Chitambala’s office
What would make it work?
Urban planning experts often say removals work best when paired with solutions:
– Allocating affordable, well-located alternative trading spaces
– Engaging trader associations before enforcement
– Staggering enforcement with sensitization and registration
– Improving water, toilets and waste management in existing markets to make them more attractive
The debate in Lusaka is therefore not just about whether streets should be cleared, but how it is done whether enforcement is matched with empowerment.
For now, traders in Kamwala are watching to see whether the LCC will provide a place to go, or whether the clean-up will leave them with clean streets but empty pockets.
We hope we don’t see an increase in crime rate in our communities because of this.
What’s your take though?
The author is a Lusaka – based resident
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