Livingstone council clears street vendors from CBD

The Livingstone City Council, in collaboration with security wings, has swung into action to clear street vendors from the Central Business District (CBD) following the expiration of the strict relocation deadline set for October 15. Local authorities had repeatedly urged traders operating informally on sidewalks and undesignated public spaces to move back into established municipal markets, particularly the Livingstone City Market, which has been designated to accommodate them. Speaking on the operation, Livingstone City Council Deputy Director of Public Health Gregory Banda noted that the local authority and various stakeholders had engaged in extensive sensitization campaigns prior to the enforcement exercise. Mr. Banda highlighted that designated markets offer superior sanitation infrastructure, which is crucial for preventing public health emergencies and maintaining general cleanliness within the tourism capital. Town Clerk Sombo Kawilila earlier reaffirmed the council's preparedness to receive the displaced vendors, pointing out that the local authority maintains an active market register to streamline the allocation of trading spaces. According to council management, existing market allocations must be utilized to ensure orderliness and fairness among all commercial traders operating within the district. The clampdown aligns with broader national efforts by local government authorities across Zambia to restore order, dignity, and hygiene in urban commercial zones. Government leaders, including Vice-President Mutale Nalumango and Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Gary Nkombo, have consistently maintained that clearing streets is designed to protect traders' dignity and public health rather than undermine livelihoods. However, the ongoing sweep continues to elicit mixed reactions from informal traders, many of whom express anxiety over potential customer loss and congestion inside formal market enclosures. As municipal police maintain a vi