INFORMAL SECTOR WORKERS ON THE VERGE OF HUNGER DUE TO ECONOMIC WOES

The Association for Venders and Marketeers-AVEMA -Zambia has warned that hunger is looming for informal sector workers whose hand-to-mouth businesses have been impacted negatively by the ongoing social and economic challenges.

Association President Abel Chikwa says the lack of liquidity in the economy, the effects of the drought and load shedding among other challenges, are set to worsen the plight of the already suffering informal sector workers.

Mr. Chikwa laments that informal sector workers are failing to adequately feed their families, pay for medical bills or meet funeral costs in the cases of death.

He says marketeers dealing with perishable goods are making losses daily, while small businesses like welding, salons and barbershops are set to lose out due to load shedding.

The AVEMA president has urged the government to complement the CEEC market loans with a parallel empowerment of soft loans to help the informal sector maneuver.