MATOLA COUNCIL DEMOLISHES ILLEGAL STALLS

Finally, one Mozambican municipality has decided to take a stand against the proliferation of illegal and unhygienic informal markets.On Wednesday, the municipal council in the southern city of Matola began the demolition of 197 informal stalls and shacks built illegally in Liberdade neighbourhood.Predictably, the stallholders complained to the cameras of the independent television station, STV, that they were being thrown into unemployment and would be unable to sustain their families. The demolition would lead to a rise in the crime rate, they threatened.They said the Council should have indicated somewhere else for them to set up their stalls. But they had to admit that they were warned a year ago that their occupation of the land in Liberdade was illegal, and that they should leave voluntarily.There are in fact plenty of vacant spaces available in the official, municipal markets. Informal vendors refuse to move into the official markets because they know they will have to pay taxes there.The Matola City Councillor for Economic Activities and Services, Jaime Langa, said the demolition of the illegal stalls followed countless complaints from local residents, who said that the stalls were obstructing the entrances to their homes, and were frequented by people “of dubious character” who cause disturbances. Langa insisted that the Council wants to “clean up” the municipality, and provide Matola with a fresh and attractive image.He warned that the demolitions would continue, and would next target the sprawling informal markets in the Mahlampswene and T3 neighbourhoods.