Measure to remove street vendors in Livingstone stands

Measure to remove street vendors in Livingstone stands

Livingstone, May 11, ZANIS ——– Government has reiterated that it will not allow anarchy in the manner trading was being conducted in the Tourist Capital saying doing so would  dent the image of Livingstone as a Tourist capital.

Minister of Tourism and Arts Ms Sylvia Masebo maintained that no street vendors would be allowed on streets and shop corridors along the main Mosi-0-Tunya road in order to clear the streets in readiness for the United Nations World Tourism General Assembly (UNWTO) in August this year.

Addressing 156 streets vendors at the council chambers who were removed from the streets yesterday, Ms Masebo said government was concerned with the plight of streets vendors and was at the same time mindful of keeping the city clean and safe for tourists.

Ms Masebo said overcrowding on the streets due to trading activities has posed a number of challenges for the council including security concerns for both tourists and locals.

“As government we will not fold our arms and let anarchy prevail because we will look like we are disorganized as the Patriotic Front government,” said Ms Masebo.

Ms Masebo also noted that government has been let down by some civil servants who she accused were bent on frustrating government efforts in preparation for the UNWTO.

 And Ms Masebo said government would look into the plight of all the affected street vendors and empower them with funds to venture into tourism related products.

The minister encouraged street vendors in Livingstone to take advantage of the government’s Tourism Product Development revolving funds to engage in tourism related products for them to benefit from the event in August this year.

Meanwhile, Livingstone city council has allocated all the street vendors an alternative place to trade from following their removal from the streets yesterday.

A Check by ZANIS at the site this morning found Ms Masebo facilitating allocation of plots to scores of traders behind the former cabinet office.