Kanduyi MP decries harsh treatment of traders by reinforcement officers

Bungoma, Wednesday, July 12, 2023,

KNA, By Bronley Kidari/ Roseland Lumwamu

Kanduyi MP John Makali has decried harassment of traders by reinforcement officers.

He demanded that the CEC for lands, urban planning, housing, and municipalities give traders a secure environment to run their businesses peacefully.

Makali said that the reinforcement had caused a massive dislocation of traders in Bungoma town in the name of re-organizing the town to make it more orderly.

Talking to KNA, the MP said he was totally against the county reinforcement officers harassing small traders who are only trying to earn a living amid the economic crisis.

“I am well aware of Lusaka’s government’s plan to re-arrange the town but I’m against the manner in which reinforcement officers are implementing the law, especially on small traders,” he said.

Makali hit at CEC municipalities, Douglas Sasita for watching the reinforcement officers implement the law without offering a better and lasting solution to the small traders in town.

“I have been having discussions with the CEC over the issue and if action is not taken, I will personally lead demonstrations of traders against the law,” the MP told KNA.

Makali asked Governor Lusaka to consider traders who sell their goods by the roadside and identify and relocate them to a better place soon.

The MP called on the county government officials who were in office to be truthful to the people, honor their oath of office and deliver their mandate accordingly.

He said that since Bungoma was doing well in revenue collection, the county should maintain that by giving small traders a peaceful environment to run their businesses.

Governor Lusaka assured residents that the county government was planning to purchase land to relocate traders so as to continue running their businesses.

Courtesy ; K. N. A