Zambian President Threatens Traders with Jail Terms

Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa on Friday in Lusaka threatened traders that sublet their market stalls to foreigners with jail sentences with no option of a fine.

He made the threats when he toured a modern market under construction in the capital that, once completed, will offer the most modern facilities in the southern African region.

The market is being constructed with funding from the European Union (EU) and is expected to be completed in two months.

Previous practice where Zambian traders sublet stalls in markets to foreigners would not be tolerated, he warned, adding that the traders found sub-letting their stalls would be imprisoned without an option of a fine.

The president who is also a lawyer did not specify under which charge such traders would be jailed, nor whether there is provision for this type of punishment under the current laws.

The running of markets in the country is a controversial subject as most traders have complained of being left out in the allocation of stalls because these are taken over by foreigners.

The government however insists that it is traders and not the city council that offer their stalls to foreigners in preference for street vending.

Source African Press Agency

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