PF Boss differs with Ministers

Davies Mwila

Dora Siliya

Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya says street vending remains banned in Zambia.

Last week in a move seen to hoodwink  Steer Vendors that account for a larger of Voters, governing party – PF General Secretary Davies Mwila directed that Lusaka Mayor should ensure that the Vendors are allowed back in the streets.

Mwila who according to the PF Government hierarchy is third after the Vice president, directed that the local authorities should stop chasing vendors from the streets but should put toilet and water facilities to dedicated streets for vending. He said the PF was voted into government by the same Vendors they are chasing from the livelihood business.

But Siliya who doubles as Information and Minister says street vending is illegal and remains banned.

Siliya a former Minister under the MMD government that was voted out in 2011 says this in a tweet. She states that SI 12 of 2018 on street vending remains applicable Law.

Below is her tweet;

“SI 12 of 2018 on street vending remains applicable Law. It remains banned. Govt investing in Markets to ensure trading is at places with running water and toilet facilities. That is dignity.”

Local Government Minister also announced that street vending remains illegal in Zambia.

This is the second time this difference is arising, the first just after PF won elections when the Minister then Prof Nkandu Luo was trying to get rid of the vendors. She differed with President Micheal Sata who later transferred her to another ministry.

Sata the founder for PF in his campaigns to remove MMD from government promised that he would leave the Vendors to trade free in the streets.