Kabwe vendors given October 1 deadline

The Kabwe Municipal Council (KMC) has officially issued a strict ultimatum giving street vendors operating within the Central Business District (CBD) and other public spaces until October 1, 2026, to relocate their commercial activities to gazetted markets. The decision, announced by KMC Public Relations Manager Chris Mulaliki, forms part of a wider municipal push to restore urban order, improve sanitation, and ease mounting traffic and pedestrian congestion across the historic railway town. According to the local authority, the proliferation of roadside trading has severely compromised pedestrian walkways, created severe traffic bottlenecks, and heightened public health risks due to inadequate waste management in undesignated spots. Municipal authorities have emphasized that over one thousand trading spaces remain available and ready for occupancy across various official markets in the district. These facilities have reportedly undergone improvements to ensure better access to clean water, sanitation amenities, and structured waste disposal systems. Mr. Mulaliki noted that the council is actively engaging with vendor representatives and stakeholders to encourage a smooth and voluntary transition before the deadline. However, the local government has made it clear that stern enforcement measures will kick in immediately after October 1. Operating outside gazetted areas contravenes the Local Government Act read together with Statutory Instrument No. 12 of 2018 on Street Vending and Nuisances Regulations. Council police officers, backed by municipal authorities, have been authorized to dismantle illegal temporary structures and take punitive actions against defaulters without further notice. This development mirrors similar urban decongestion exercises unfolding in other Zambian cities, including Lusaka, where local authorities are aggressively reclaiming public spaces. While municipal councils across the country consistently cite public safety, hygiene, and urban