Old City market traders demand priority

TRADERS at Lusaka City Market have said they should be given priority in the allocation of stands in the new market building still under construction.
The traders are demanding that those who operated in the gutted market building be given priority when it comes to getting the new trading spaces.
Ms Beatrice Mutale, a fish monger, warned that confusion will reign if new people are considered first than those who have been operating at the area for a long time.
“It will be disastrous if those responsible first give stands to new comers at our expense. My appeal is that they first consider us who have been here for years,” said Ms Mutale.
Ms Mutale who said she has been selling at City market for over 21 years now, complained that the business has been slow since the building got gutted two years ago.
She appeal to the council to give her priority when allocating spaces in the new market building.
“I don’t have a husband and I rely on this business for everything like paying my children’s school fees, buying food and paying rentals,” stated the mother of five.
Ms Mutale complained about facing challenges when it comes to storing fresh fish because she always has to procure ice blocks and cooler boxes.
‘There has never been power in this market building ever since it got gutted but I have to always find the ice blocks to store my fish,” she said.