• A day ago Lusaka City Council removed eight illegal makeshift stalls from the North mead Area.
• The makeshift stalls or booths in question did not apply for planning permission.
• The Council reserves the right to regularize, after payment of penalty fee, structures without documents.

Lusaka City Council (LCC) has removed an additional twenty two makeshift stalls in the North mead Area in the early hours of today after it was discovered that stall owners did not acquire planning permission from the Local Authority.

Council Assistant Public Relations Manager Thelma Mbewe revealed the development was part of an operation to take corrective measures for stalls that have encumbrances after verification has taken place, as LCC is mandated to do so.
Ms. Mbewe had since urged traders who wish to do business in makeshift stalls or booths to get planning permission first, after that is granted, a business levy certificate can then be obtained from the Council.

“The Council also wishes to advise the general public to apply for planning permission from the Local Authority before they put up any structures to avoid being inconvenienced,” she said.

A day ago had Lusaka City Council removed eight illegal makeshift stalls from the North mead Area following a Council resolution at its sitting on 14th December, 2021 to undertake a verification exercise of all trading structures around markets and bus stations.

The LCC Assistant Public Relations officer explained the makeshift stalls or booths in question did not apply for planning permission as stipulated in the Urban and Regional Planning Act of 2015 before putting up these structures hence making it an illegality.

She stated that Traders in the area were served with notices on 14th January, 2022 to present approval or offer letters from the Council indicating conditions on which their structures were approved.

According to her, “LCC has continued to carry out inspections of makeshift stalls and containers in and around market areas and bus stations to ensure corrective measures are taken.

Ms. Mbewe had since indicated that the Council reserves the right to regularize, after payment of penalty fee, structures without documents or order the removal of trading structures that have encumbrances.