By 
Lusaka Mayor-elect, Simon Mwewa Chitambala, on Saturday began the process of removing street vendors from some parts of the city, signalling the start of efforts to restore order in the capital.
The exercise, which follows campaign promises to clear illegal trading from the Central Business District and relocate traders to designated markets, quickly sparked widespread discussion on social media, with many Zambians expressing support while others watched closely to see how the operation unfolds.
Several Facebook users said the mayor-elect was delivering on one of his most publicised campaign pledges.
Thomas TN wrote that Chitambala was “the first politician to promise that I will chase you if you vote for me and actually gets voted.”
Read more: Social Media Trends: UPND’s Mwewa starts removing campaign posters after defeat
Conrad Chisenga echoed similar sentiments, saying: “The good part is during campaigns, he never hid what he was going to do… and he’s doing exactly that.”
Others focused on the mayor-elect’s instructions to council officers during the operation.
Evans Salamba Jr. commented: “We are here to give you instructions… We voted for the right person.”
Some residents expressed optimism that the exercise would improve the city’s appearance.
Nana Annie Namfukwe said she believed Lusaka would become cleaner under Mr Chitambala’s leadership, while Esther Mazala wrote: “Finally Lusaka will be clean and proudly calling it a capital city.”
The operation also generated humour online.
Chi Sanga joked that authorities should provide the mayor-elect with a microphone so that his instructions could be heard clearly during the exercise.
Nellie Theo predicted that the mayor-elect’s performance could propel him to higher political office, commenting: “Next stop member of parliament.”
Meanwhile, some users noted the scale of public support behind the mayor-elect, with Charles Chipango remarking that people were asking who had voted for him before another user responded: “Me and the others.”
The relocation exercise is expected to continue as the Lusaka City Council moves traders from undesignated streets to officially recognised markets, in line with the mayor-elect’s pledge to improve sanitation, ease congestion and restore order in the capital.
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