Chingola’s Chiwempala Market partially gutted
The hardware and restaurant sections at Chingola’s Chiwempala Market have been set on fire days after female traders angrily opposed the government’s plans to upgrade the facility to a multi-storey structure using a Chinese contractor.
Some residents told Newsday Zambia from Chingola on Wednesday morning that the fire which affected stalls near the rail line is said to have started around the early hours of Wednesday.
“Hardware section and restaurants near railway at Chiwempala Market have been burnt down by fire that is said to have started around 02:00hrs,” one of the residents said.
Another resident said there was a near punch up at the market on Monday when government and ruling PF officials went to announce moves to build an upstair market in place of the current one.
“Part of the biggest market in Chingola has been burnt. On Monday there were near punches during the meeting between government envoys and traders who said the are not of the idea of having an upstair market because they have spent millions in erecting their structures and that that’s where they have educated their children,” the eyewitness source said. “The idea was mostly supported by pro-PF supporters who wanted the Chinese contractor to come on site as soon as possible.”
The sources said the majority of women traders were very upset with the government officisls.
“They said they were not consulted on the roadmap, they (government) just want to impose. Moreover even the rentals will be hiked,” the source narrated.
