Mandevu roadside marketeers riot
By Mast Reporter
A RIOT erupted Friday night in Lusaka’s Mandevu Township opposite Heroes Stadium after suspected United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres backed by police ordered marketeers to move away from their usual trading site.
In what is seen as an overthrow, the cadres have taken control of the roadside market, which is now under police guard.
The marketeers, who trade in farm produce mainly grain, pumpkin, sugar cane, sweet potatoes and charcoal, were caught unawares when armed police officers ordered them to leave.
Most of the marketeers who spend nights guarding and selling their merchandise started throwing objects at motorists in protest after they found their makeshift market, including their merchandise, under guard.
“Ma cadres ba UPND nibamene batenga market yatu [UPND cadres are the ones who have grabbed this market from us. How come they have come today? We have been trading on this place for over 20 years and nothing of this nature has happened before,” they said.
But the Zambia Police Service, which confirmed the riot, said around 23:00 hours Friday, undersheriffs from the Lusaka High Court executed a court order to remove people from trading on the piece of land.
Spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said the undersheriffs executed the court order in favour of a company identified as SOFITEL, which granted it ownership of the open space opposite Heroes Stadium where the marketeers have been trading for two decades.
Hamoonga said the marketeers had been trading at the place illegally.
“The operation, which continued into the early hours of today, Saturday, was aimed at securing and fencing off the said premises. During this process, four makeshift stalls were dismantled, with no significant damage caused to other structures,” he said.
“At around 05:00 hours, some traders who arrived to begin their business activities discovered that their merchandise had been tampered with, and some claimed items were missing. In response, they resorted to blocking the Great North Road in protest,” he said.
Hamoonga said police responded swiftly to the disturbance and engaged with the traders through their leaders.
“The situation was calmed through dialogue without the use of teargas or discharge of firearms. However, a vehicle which passed through the area before the arrival of police officers was stoned by agitated individuals,” he said.
Hamoonga said trading activities resumed after a serious engagement with market the leaders and the owner of the land.
