Zambia: The construction of the first modern market has been launched in the Chongwe Constituency. Minister of Health Sylvia Masebo attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the market premises on Saturday.
The market’s construction cost has been projected at K22 Million. Zambia National Service (ZNS) will construct the facility, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
Minister Masebo is also the Member of Parliament elected from the Chongwe constituency. She is happy about the significant development in her constituency
Speaking during the ground-breaking ceremony Masebo stated that the facility will provide a conducive environment for traders to sell their merchandise.
Minister Masebo said it is the government’s desire to ensure that all districts in the country including those in rural areas have modern trading facilities such as markets.
She explained that Chongwe main market located in the Central Business District (CBD) can no longer accommodate the large number of traders operating at the market due to the growing population in the area.
Sylvia Masebo said this is why the government through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development sourced funds to construct a modern market which will have enough trading space to accommodate the large number of traders in the ward.
” Your government, under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema, wants all areas in the country to have a modern market like the one we are launching today, in at least each district, especially in rural areas. Chongwe may not be a city but we are going to have a modern trading facility like the ones found in cities which is exactly what the government intends to do in atleast each district,” Minister Masebo said.
The law maker added that Chongwe Municipal Council will be able to easily maintain the facility as it is able to collect more revenue from the market.
She said high standards of hygiene and sanitation will also be easily maintained at the market by the local authority to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera.
Minister Masebo further thanked Senior Chieftaness Nkomeshya Mukamambo, II for giving the local authority three hectares of land where the market will be constructed.
Meanwhile, Chongwe Deputy Mayor Anita Kamanga noted that the modern market will open up the Constituency to economic development.
Mayor Kamanga stated that locals will undertake various economic activities at the market and in surrounding areas, which will enable them to sustain their lives.
She said the facility will also create jobs for people especially women and youths in the area.
Anita Kamanga commended Minister Sylvia Masebo for taking the lead in facilitating the sourcing of land from the royal establishment and ensuring that funds to construct the market are made available to the local authority.
Meanwhile, Senior Headman Nkomeshya, who spoke on behalf of the Busoli Royal Establishment, commended the government for making strides to develop Senior Chieftaness Nkomeshya Mukamambo II Chiefdom.
Headman Nkomeshya described the construction of the modern market as a milestone that will create more economic opportunities for residents in the area.
The traditional leader called on the government to ensure that local residents are prioritised in all employment opportunities that will be created at the market.
“We do not want to see people from other districts being given first priority when it comes to employment at this market, we will not entertain that. Give our subjects first priority so that their livelihood is uplifted,” Headman Nkomeshya said.
He further urged the Local Authority and Police in the area to ensure that operations at the market are handled in a transparent and orderly manner.