Influx of foreigners at Kyawama market worries local traders

Influx of foreigners at Kyawama market worries local traders

Solwezi, March 6, ZANIS —— Solwezi District Business Association (SDBA) has asked the department of Immigration in Solwezi to conduct a clean-up exercise in Kyawama Township and ensure that illegal foreigners posing as traders are flushed out.

SDBA Chairperson Allan Kabwata said markets in Solwezi are invaded by foreign traders who have no legal permits to do business activities.

Mr Kabwata said the foreign traders who are mostly Congolese, Tanzanians and Rwandese are contributing to the unrest at Kyawama market and should be screened further to determine if they are genuine traders.

Mr Kabwata said this during a stakeholders meeting called by the District Commissioner to resolve the conflicts marketers are having with foreign traders at Kyawama market.

This follows the death of a Zambian man who was killed by a Tanzanian national two weeks ago in Kyawama compound.

And on Tuesday traders at Kyawama market rioted after a police vehicle killed a 13 year girl.

The traders have also asked the council to consider establishing a separate market for foreign traders similar to the COMESA market in Lusaka as a long term measure to resolve the conflicts in the market.

And Cross Boarder Traders’ Association Vice Chairperson Felix Daka urged the traders not to treat foreign traders harshly but to use appropriate means to address their conflicts.

Mr Daka said mistreating them may affect the trade relationship between their countries and Zambia as this will work to the disadvantage of all parties.

He said the association will facilitate the process of setting up a separate market for the foreign traders in Solwezi so that harmony is maintained.

District Commissioner Crispin Likando encouraged the stakeholders to work together and strengthen linkages among themselves in order to foster a common good for all.

Mr Likando urged the cross boarder trader association to work closely with the council because the situation on the ground is not good.