Thu, 25 Jan 2018 17:57:04 +0000
By CHINTU MALAMBO
THE Lusaka Union of Marketeers Cooperative Society and the Lilanda Marketeers Cooperative Society have dragged Kapwepwe ward councillor Patrick Salubusa to the Lusaka High Court seeking an injunction restraining him from taking over the running of Lilanda market.
In a statement of claim filed in court, the cooperative societies alleged that Mr Salubusa and the Lusaka City Council (LCC) were interfering and destabilising the smooth running of Lilanda marketeers Cooperative Society in his capacity as a councillor and has planted his supporters to continue destabilizing the traders.
The complainants claimed that on January 18 2018, Mr Salubusa organised his supporters and declared himself as market master of Lilanda market.
The unions also claimed that since the close of the market by the government, to facilitate a thorough cleaning to curb the spread of cholera, Mr Salubusa took advantage of the said closure to push his agenda to destabilise and impose himself as the leader of Lilanda market against the existing laws.
It was further alleged that Mr Salubusa had no legal right to properties of the market as he was only in charge of land and traders.
They claimed that Mr Salubusa and the Lusaka City Council (LCC) omitted to follow the right procedure by informing the Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry.
The complainants indicated that their members would suffer irreparable damages if LCC was allowed to take over as it was not clear as to what they were taking over which may be land, business, leadership or everything.
The duo want the court to declare that LCC’s actions as illegal and unjust.
They also want damages for loss of use of the funds anticipated from the levies, damages for injury, mental anguish and inconvenience including interest on all monies.
