Building modern markets

Another interesting promise extracf from Government Assurance report :

Building Modern Markets in all Provincial Centres, Government Assurance Report, Excerpt :

On 30th March, 2005, the Hon Minister of Local Government and Housing made the following assurance on the floor of the House: “Mr Speaker, it is the intention of the Government to build markets like the new Soweto Market in all Provincial Centres and, also in big cities like Livingstone, Kitwe and Ndola.”

In his update , the Permanent Secretary reported that the Government had not commenced the construction of modern markets in all provincial centres because of inadequate budget provision to undertake the programme. He further reported that the exercise was a long term undertaking because of the huge sums of money required. Each provincial centre would require between K1.5 billion and K2 billion.

Committee’s Observations and Recommendations

Your Committee observe that it is taking too long to implement the assurance. They further observe that the request to close the matter, as advised by the Permanent Secretary, is premature and untimely as nothing has been achieved to warrant the closure of the assurance.

In view of the foregoing, your Committee urge the Government to urgently find the money to kick start this project of constructing modern markets in all provincial centres. Only when this is done will your Committee consider closing the assurance. A progress report is awaited on the matter.

The idea of having modern markets in provincial towns is noble. What I can't understand is why the Parliamentarians are looking to government footing the bill. Surely markets are no different from large shopping malls? This would seem to be an area where government should be encouraging the local councils to partner with the private sector. Indeed the vision should be private sector led markets with local councils regulating through setting appropriate rates.