By Stanley Fwataki
Construction of the long-awaited Kyawama Modern Market in Solwezi has still not begun almost two years after the groundbreaking ceremony, leaving more than 2,000 traders operating in overcrowded and unsafe conditions. The market, which is the largest and busiest trading centre in Solwezi, continues to struggle with poor sanitation, inadequate shelter, and rising congestion despite a government commitment to upgrade it.
Solwezi, the provincial capital of North-Western Province, sits at the heart of Zambia’s mining belt and is home to Kansanshi Mine, Lumwana Barrick, and Kalumbila Mines which has grown rapidly, now accommodating over 332,700 residents, according to the 2022 Census.
With a provincial population exceeding 1.2 million people, markets such as Kyawama play an important role in linking agriculture, mining-related trade, and household commerce. The vibrant market offers fresh produce, spices, household goods, and crafts, but its old infrastructure has failed to match the town’s explosive growth.
In December 2024, the Solwezi Municipal Council announced through its official Facebook page that it had approved a K213.6 million budget for 2025, representing a 28 percent increase from the previous year. Within this budget, K47.7 million was allocated for capital projects, including the construction of a fire station, paving of open spaces, installation of streetlights, and, importantly, the long-promised Kyawama Modern Market. However, despite these allocations, the site remains untouched nearly two years after the 2 January 2024 groundbreaking ceremony.
Traders say the delay has made a bad situation worse. Bridget Chinzahu, the Kyawama Market chairperson who has traded there for 20 years, describes daily operations as exhausting and unsafe. She says the market has only four toilets and two bathing rooms, no drainage system, no running water, and shelter that floods or collapses during the rainy season.
“We have over 2,000 traders depending on this place every day,” she said. “We need urgent government action. We can not keep working in these conditions.”
The lack of progress has increased pressure on the Solwezi Municipal Council, which began preliminary steps in October 2025 by identifying a temporary trading site where traders will operate while work begins on the main market site.
According to Engineer Maxwell Chibesa, the Council’s representative, the contractor engaged is Horizon Properties, which is currently clearing land and constructing facilities at the temporary site. The new holding area will include an ablution block with four toilets, a car park, running water, and adequate shelter to allow traders to operate safely while construction on the main market gets underway.
Chibesa explained that the delay resulted from lengthy procurement processes under the electronic government procurement system, which slowed planning and approvals. He said that once traders are moved to the temporary location scheduled for December 2025, the Council will clear the old Kyawama site and begin full construction. The modern market is expected to be completed within 12 months, beginning in September 2025 and ending in October 2026, if all goes according to plan.
The total cost for both the temporary site and the modern market is about K53.5 million (K53,465,545.10), funded entirely through locally generated revenue by the Solwezi Municipal Council. When completed, the new Kyawama Modern Market will feature over 2,000 trading shelters, 60 permanent shops, office space, 32 mobile-money booth spaces, and full water and sanitation services.
A check conducted on site confirmed that work at the new temporary site is progressing, with the contractor on the ground. Engineer Chibesa assured Solwezi residents that the Council will strictly supervise the project to ensure quality work is delivered within the stipulated timeframe.
As traders wait to be relocated and construction to finally begin, Kyawama Market remains overcrowded, vibrant, and essential but desperately in need of the modernisation it has long been promised.
Produced by Radio Kabangabanga in Solwezi for MakanDay. The article has been edited and fact-checked by MakanDay.
Discover more from MAKANDAY
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
