Traders Warn Against Allowing Chinese To Sell Chickens at Chifubu Market

THERE will be no peace if you allow Chinese investors to come at Chifubu market and start selling chickens, marketeers have warned.

And PF Fibobe ward councillor Kondwani Winga has told the marketeers to defend their market from the Chinese and Lebanese traders.

The marketeers at Chifubu market have protested the pending coming of the Chinese and Lebanese ‘investors’.

The irate marketeers said it was not fair for the government and the local authorities to allow foreigners to be selling goods like second hand clothes.

“Tatwasuminishe ba (we will not allow) Chinese boys to be selling chickens in our market. We have never seen this happen before. Why should we become slaves in our own country? Why allow the Chinese to be selling salaula, chickens, Tokota and roasted maize? Where, why should this be so?” a trader, Olga Njovu, asked.

“Ala if you want peace, just tell ba Chinese to go back. We won’t allow them here in Chifubu market. If you (government) want them, find a place for them, not Chifubu market. These Chinese come with salaula and they don’t even care. Us we are selling a T-shirt at K25, but a Chinese is selling at K10, where is the fairness surely? Why should we be suffering in our own country.”

Chifubu market chairperson Mushota Musonda, who pleaded with the marketeers, said no Chinese or Lebanese would be allowed in the market.

“As market leadership, we have heard your concerns and please let me assure you that we won’t allow these people in our markets. We have informed the leadership that first priority is the interest of our people. So please be calm. Go back to your stands because no foreign investor will be allowed here. No Chinese will be allowed to rent a shop and start selling hair. That will not be allowed,” Mushota assured the marketers.

But councillor Winga said the marketers should defend their businesses.

“Kwena we have heard the complaints and your cries are very genuine because these foreigners or investors have funds and external backing in terms of finances. But you our people no one is here to help you, you work because of poverty. So why should a foreigner in the name of an investor come and compete with you in townships? That is being unfair to the Zambian people,” Winga said.

“We removed the people from the streets and how can we bring foreign in markets also? That will not work. The mayor is aware of this. These guys should know that they are not Zambians. How can we have investors who are coming in buying and selling? If there is a foreigner here selling chickens, rise and grab to defend your businesses.”

He appealed to the local authority to find a better way of giving trading permits to investors.

“My question goes to the council that: how did you give permits to such people? These Chinese and Lebanese should not take the people of Zambia for granted. These so called investors, they don’t even pay tax. Today, they are in shops, tomorrow they are in salaula and the other day in tomato business. Let us stand and defend our market from these investors. If investors come, they should go to the industries and set up businesses there, not coming here to sell hair, no,” said Winga.

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