“I truly stand with you on this, tamwanye mweka tulenya bonse (You won’t defecate alone, we shall defecate together). There is no way. There is no way they can do this … Every well meaning Zambian should condemn this,” said Ndola mayor Jones Kalyati in opposing the demolition of mobile money booths in the city’s central business district by his council.
He suspected that the director of health at the council was behind the same. That could actually be revealing something deeper at the council in terms of disharmony that an activity such as that can be carried out without the mayor’s approval, as he claimed.
But coming to the issues he raised, we feel on this one ba mayor should be encouraged ukunya beka. We sympathise with our brothers and sisters whose livelihoods have been affected on account of the action by the council. But every society has got rules and regulations, in terms of areas that are clearly set aside for the conduct of any business. People can’t just go about trading anywhere they want, even as that risks other people. The same trading booths can actually be used by thieves to engage in crimes against other citizens especially during late evening hours and night times. And others also resort to using them as toilets, and hideouts for all sorts of vices including drugs.
There is a reason why people are always encouraged to trade in designated trading areas where essential amenities are provided for, including toilets and other facilities. Those people Kalyati is saying he will defecate together with, were they being provided with amenities such as toilets and running water for instance where they were trading from? If he says he suspected the director of health as having been behind the same exercise, could it be that the same director might have probably faced obstacles from Kalyati himself from carrying out the duties for which he was employed for, since the mayor is already showing that he would have rather the people remained trading in undesignated trading areas?
The rain season has started right now, and if one visits most central business districts in this country they are an eyesore. Garbage is dispossed of anyhow. And because most people lack proper amenities where they trade from, some seek the solace of plastic bags where they defecate from and dispose the same anyhow and in drainages. When cholera hits, it won’t just affect the perpetrators of such vices but the other innocent citizens as well.
We know Kalyati is a politician and must be seen to side with the traders as they make up an influential electorate. But wrong must not be supported just because it will help someone maintain the support of the people and win an election. If anything, we would expect Kalyati to use his position in terms of ensuring that proper amenities are put in place in areas where he supports the same people should trade from. As a mayor he should be seen to be taking steps aimed at ensuring that his city is kept tidy and clean, including taking steps against encouraging activities that might offer breeding ground for serious outbreaks such as cholera.
If he says balanya together with the traders, at least he should mention the steps he will take as mayor to help them out. We are not just sure if he will get his council to agree with him given the many hints of insubordination he has indicated facing, including complaints about the ruling party’s interference in the operations of the council.
But we oppose his defence of unregulated trading due to its many cons.
By Daily Revelation Editor
“I truly stand with you on this, tamwanye mweka tulenya bonse (You won’t defecate alone, we shall defecate together). There is no way. There is no way they can do this … Every well meaning Zambian should condemn this,” said Ndola mayor Jones Kalyati in opposing the demolition of mobile money booths in the city’s central business district by his council.
He suspected that the director of health at the council was behind the same. That could actually be revealing something deeper at the council in terms of disharmony that an activity such as that can be carried out without the mayor’s approval, as he claimed.
But coming to the issues he raised, we feel on this one ba mayor should be encouraged ukunya beka. We sympathise with our brothers and sisters whose livelihoods have been affected on account of the action by the council. But every society has got rules and regulations, in terms of areas that are clearly set aside for the conduct of any business. People can’t just go about trading anywhere they want, even as that risks other people. The same trading booths can actually be used by thieves to engage in crimes against other citizens especially during late evening hours and night times. And others also resort to using them as toilets, and hideouts for all sorts of vices including drugs.
There is a reason why people are always encouraged to trade in designated trading areas where essential amenities are provided for, including toilets and other facilities. Those people Kalyati is saying he will defecate together with, were they being provided with amenities such as toilets and running water for instance where they were trading from? If he says he suspected the director of health as having been behind the same exercise, could it be that the same director might have probably faced obstacles from Kalyati himself from carrying out the duties for which he was employed for, since the mayor is already showing that he would have rather the people remained trading in undesignated trading areas?
The rain season has started right now, and if one visits most central business districts in this country they are an eyesore. Garbage is dispossed of anyhow. And because most people lack proper amenities where they trade from, some seek the solace of plastic bags where they defecate from and dispose the same anyhow and in drainages. When cholera hits, it won’t just affect the perpetrators of such vices but the other innocent citizens as well.
We know Kalyati is a politician and must be seen to side with the traders as they make up an influential electorate. But wrong must not be supported just because it will help someone maintain the support of the people and win an election. If anything, we would expect Kalyati to use his position in terms of ensuring that proper amenities are put in place in areas where he supports the same people should trade from. As a mayor he should be seen to be taking steps aimed at ensuring that his city is kept tidy and clean, including taking steps against encouraging activities that might offer breeding ground for serious outbreaks such as cholera.
If he says balanya together with the traders, at least he should mention the steps he will take as mayor to help them out. We are not just sure if he will get his council to agree with him given the many hints of insubordination he has indicated facing, including complaints about the ruling party’s interference in the operations of the council.
But we oppose his defence of unregulated trading due to its many cons.
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