Marketeers bemoan construction delays

Marketeers bemoan construction delays

Livingstone, September 9, 2014, ZANIS——Marketeers operating at the Green Market in Livingstone have expressed worry and concern over the delay in completing the two-storey ultramodern market currently under construction.

The marketeers complained that it was now one year down the line without progress on the project since the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly took place in August last year.

Speaking to ZANIS in an interview, the marketeers lamented that the construction of the market has been long overdue as it was to be completed soon after the UNWTO.

The Marketeers expressed worry over the failure by the relevant authorities to complete the market and are now afraid if the market will not be operational before the onset of the rainy season.

They complained that many will be forced to rush to seek shelter in the shop corridors causing congestion which should not be the case.

“We are trying to co-operate with the council by being patient  by staying out here but we feel this is becoming too much and our patience is running out because already we are suffering from the heat and some of the people here are selling fresh fruits and vegetables which are perishable.

This was once a very vibrant and bustling market with a lot of activity”, they said.

The marketeers disclosed that former Tourism and Arts Minister Sylvia Masebo assured Livingstone residents that street vendors will not go back to the streets after the August 2013 United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly.

They have since appealed to the government through the Livingstone City Council to look into the matter so that they can speed up the works before the onset on the rains.