Garbage chokes COMESA Market

CEASAR MBEWE writes

TRADERS at Lusaka’s COMESA Market are disappointed with Lusaka City Council (LCC)’s failure to collect garbage from the trading centre on time.
The traders lamented that the uncollected garbage was affecting their business because some potential customers were getting put off by the foul smell coming from the refuse and the unhygienic conditions created by the waste.
They said that it took as long as two weeks for the council to collect the garbage from the international market.
One of the traders, Mariah Mumba, who runs a restaurant at COMESA, complained that the unhygienic conditions created by the garbage was affecting her business.
“People are no longer coming along to buy the food as much as they used to because of the foul smell from the uncollected garbage,” said Ms Mumba.
She said that the council was always on time to collect the service levy and yet reluctant when it came to collecting the garbage.
“It now going to two weeks since the council last collected the garbage. How do they expect us to operate in such conditions,” queried Ms Mumba.
Mundia Kwalombota, a Salaula trader, described as unfortunate the failure by the LCC to collect the garbage on time.
He accused the council of exposing people to potential disease outbreaks through failure to collect the garbage on time.
“The council has a responsibility of promoting hygiene and good sanitation in the city, but failing to collect the garbage on time is infact doing the very opposite,” said Mr Kwalombota.
He said the garbage is producing a disturbing smell which is chasing away potential customers.
“It also poses a threat of causing an outbreak of waterborne diseases,” he said.