LINDA SOKO TEMBO writes
TRADERS at Mandevu Compound’s Palupili Farmers Market, in Lusaka, have appealed to government to build them a permanent shed for business.
Market chairman, Clever Mushunga, said that the traders faced serious challenges during various seasons and that the Ministry of Local Government should quickly come to their aid.
Mr Mushunga told The Sun in an interview that it was important for government to support the now over 1000 traders operating from the farmers’ market so that they could earn their living in an honest manner.
The Palupili Farmers Market is situated on the Great North Road, right opposite the old Independence Stadium.
“As you can see the traders here operate in open air, with the heat and the rains posing a very serious challenge to them. Trading their source of livelihood so they cannot stop trading despite those challenges,” he said.
Mr Mushunga explained that the traders at Palupili Market decided to set up the trading space along the road in order to give easy access to the buyers and the trucks supplying them with the farm produce.
He said, “The council market here is located about a kilometre inside the compound and access to it is quite difficult especially for the trucks.
The chairman also appealed to the area Member of Parliament, Ms Jean Kapata, and the area councilor to lobby government over the issue on their behalf.
Meanwhile, one of the traders at Palupili Farmers Market, Jarosy Simusokwe, described working in open air as strenuous, especially in the hot and rain seasons.
“We keep taking our doors in and out of the rented storage house during the rain season and that damages them in the process,” complained Ms Simusokwe.