WRANGLE ERUPTS AT ULTRA- MODERN LSTONE MARKET

By ANDREW MUKOMA ZAMBIA Micro and Small Traders Foundation Cooperative (ZAMAST) formerly known as street vendors association in Livingstone has rejected the selection of Shebby Mushabati, as the Chairman of the just completed ultramodern market. ZAMAST has rejected Mr Mushabati and his executive alleging it was comprised of partisan members who were sympathizers of the opposition UPND. The traders said the committee would not operate in line with the Local Government Act that provides for the running of markets and bus stations as Mr Mushabati was believed to be UPND Kazungula constituency official. ZAMAST provincial coordinator, Fredrick Sakala, told the Daily Nation that the Livingstone City Council should not allow partisan members to get involved in running of the market but should allow neutral people to do so. “If the committee of Shebby Mushabati is allowed to run the market, then most of the legible members who are supposed to occupy stands in the market will be side-lined…this is because the committee comprises of UPND officials. “Our fear is if the market will be run by a committee belonging to a political party, then those who do not support that same party will be victimised. Our appeal to the Council is that let this issue be resolved amicably because most of the people who were displaced when Zimbabwe market was demolished in 2012 are our members,” he said. Mr Sakala said that after making consultations with the local authority, it was resolved that traders would only occupy the market after the general election next week. There was no immediate comment from the office of the Town Clerk and it was established that Mr Mushabati is the current UPND Katombora chairman constituency in Kazungula District.