By Pride Nyirenda | Luanshya
By day, “Cambodia” in Luanshya’s central business district appears to be a busy commercial area. But behind the shop fronts, a different reality exists.
A Spice FM report has revealed that several business premises have quietly been converted into homes, with mattresses tucked behind shop counters, cooking taking place inside trading spaces, and some families living in buildings never intended for human habitation.
The report also found concerns over poor sanitation, the absence of running water and proper toilets, as well as allegations that the area has become a hotspot for illicit drug use and excessive alcohol consumption.
While some occupants say rising rental costs and economic hardship have left them with no alternative, the situation raises important questions about public health, urban planning, and enforcement of Zambia’s planning and public health laws.
How did a regulated commercial zone become an informal settlement? Why were the apparent violations allowed to continue? And who is responsible for protecting the health and safety of both traders and residents?
?Listen to the full report by Spice FM’s Pride Nyirenda to hear what residents, traders, council officials, health experts and local leaders had to say.
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