Africa-Press – Zambia. The Women Aiding Women has expressed displeasure over local authorities actions of ‘displacing’ vendors which it says are seemingly working against central government economic thrust.
Women Aiding Women Founder, Nsama Musonda Kearns says it is disheartening to note that the government which should be in forefront in promoting small enterprises is now displacing them.
“Our hearts are sore to see women and young girls who have chosen to take legal paths to sustain their livelihoods facing challenges, when Government through various empowerment projects including the newly established Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises should be in the forefront of sustaining these businesses and not displacing them,” noted Musonda.
Musonda bemoaned the continued removal of mobile money booths by the local authority, saying councils are doing so without having dialogue with the affected agents.
“This exercise which started in Lusaka has unfortunately spread to other parts of the country without the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development providing a road map for those who are affected and would be affected,” said Musonda.
According to Musonda, Zambia has fallen into the low-income margin because of low income at household level and high unemployment rates, hence as a country that is developing, authorities should cannot underestimate the informal sector or small and medium enterprises as they are helping the country to remain stable and not absolutely poor.
“What happened recently in Choma were a pregnant woman climbed a council van in protest to save her phone booth should worry all well-meaning Zambians and prompt the local authority to quickly come up with a plan that will enable the mobile money agents to sustain their businesses and operate in a safe environment.
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