• The stores were constructed under the agreement signed between Zambia and the Chinese company.
• The Chinese Company is supposed to recover the money used to construct those shops through rental collection.
• Minister of Local Government should institute investigations into the matter.

A Development Activist has advised government to review the 65-year lease agreement Zambia entered into with China Henan of China over Luburma market at Kamwala trading area in Lusaka.
Speaking to Money FM News, Wesley Miyanda said the agreement entails that the Chinese Company is supposed to recover the money that it used to construct the shops through monthly rental collections.
Mr. Miyanda however noted that the 65-year time frame that was agreed upon by government through Ministry of Local government and the Chinese Company is too much, therefor the need to review the agreement and reverse it if possible.
“The chain of stores around Kamwala or Luburma market were constructed under the agreement signed between Zambia and the Chinese company and my main concern is actually on the length of time that has been agreed upon by government through Ministry of Local government and the Chinese Company,” Mr. Miyanda said.
He called on Minister of Local Government and Urban Development Garry Nkombo to institute investigations into the matter, and give back the shops to Lusaka City Council for them to maximize their revenue collection.
“When you at look at the length of time, it is too much and I want to appeal to Minister of Local Government and Urban Development Garry Nkombo to institute some investigations into this matter, and see if this arrangement can be reviewed and where possible, shall we disengage ourselves from this agreement so that we give back these shops to the Council just to maximize their revenue collection,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mr. Miyanda observed that traders who are renting the shops at Lurbuma market are charged exorbitant fees, making it difficult for most of them to afford.
He noted that if the Council can take over the market, charges can come down to a reasonable amount so that Zambians can afford to rent the shops and put their businesses in an enabling environment.
“There are some malata shops which were constructed outside this designated area and these are suspected to have been constructed by former PF cadres who are still harvesting a lot of money through rentals which are just too exorbitant because looking at the size of those shops, each one of them is fetching close to K3, 000.”
“The Council should come in through Local Government Minister to make sure that all those shops are taken away from these individual hands and be given to the local authority,” Mr. Miyanda emphasized.
On 9th August 2001, Lusaka City Council entered into a joint lease agreement with China Henan for the development of Luburma market in its quest to provide modern trading facilities in the area.
And in 2019, Lusaka City Council declared a dispute with China Henan, following serious concerns and perceived breach of the terms of the long-term agreement.