Yesterday, our CaDev team Beatrice Chikanda, Felix Sinkala, Chaiwe Mushauko and Paul Sichalwe had the privilege of engaging with marketeers, market authorities, and waste bay operators at Chilenje Market as part of our journey to strengthen sustainable waste management systems and innovative SWM infrastructure for the Chilenje Solid Waste Management project support by ICLEI, Lusaka City Council, GIZ Zambia, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and Lusaka Integrated Solid Waste Management Company.

The interactions were both insightful and inspiring from listening to the marketeers’ perspectives, to collaborating with the market masters, and learning from the waste operators on the ground. What stood out most was the openness and willingness of the market operators to embrace new structures that will not only improve waste management but also create a healthier, cleaner marketplace.

We were also honoured by the presence of Sylvia Banda of Sylvia Catering, who will conducted training with marketeers on Food processing and handling. This highlights the holistic approach needed ensuring that our markets don’t just supply fresh foods, but also add value through processing while maintaining safe and hygienic environments free from infectious diseases.

This engagement is critical to CaDev as we upgrade and improve the Markets Solid Waste Management system under contract by ICLEI on their GIZ funded Fresh Food Markets for Healthier Food Environments Project. CaDev is working alongside DICHEM who have been contracted to upgrade the Markets Water and Drainage Infrastructure.