Hundreds of vendors evacuate market to clean town

HUNDREDS of street vendors in Wabag evacuated the market on Sunday after a seven-day notice of eviction was given to the public by police to clean the town.
The informal sector market has contributed to illegal activities such as the consumption of homebrew and marijuana for more than 20 years.
Enga acting police commander Sr Insp Epenes Nili said illegal attachments and structures needed to be pulled down for health and cleanliness reasons.
The aim of the clean-up programme was to ensure a
cleaner town and stop illegal activities.
“Wabag town is filled with piled up rubbish and is an eye sore for locals and visitors,” Nili said.
“I will place police and army personnel to monitor the people making sure the town is clean at all times and free of violence.”
He said the provincial capital needed to be well kept and in a presentable state because it was Enga’s main urban area and the site of most of the province’s government offices and business services.
Nili said unauthorised shops and makeshift buildings would be dismantled and removed.
He also warned vendors not to set up their tables and stalls within 10m from main roads.
“Any activities within this perimeter of the road is illegal and in breach of traffic rule,” he said.
Nili said the recent deaths of four people in the area was because vendors had set up tables and stalls by the roadside.