New Multipurpose Facility to Enhance Sanitation and Safety at Soweto Market
The New Multipurpose Facility, located in Soweto Market - Zambia’s biggest and most vibrant marketplace - is set to transform the working conditions for female vendors. The facility, currently under construction, aligns with ongoing slum upgrading initiatives led by the People’s Process on Housing and Poverty in Zambia (PPHPZ).
Supported by the VCA programme, the facility is being built to provide essential services—including modern toilets, trading spaces, and a dedicated child-friendly area—to support female vendors who often bring their children to work.
The New Multipurpose Facility, located in Soweto Market—Zambia’s biggest and most vibrant marketplace—is set to transform the working conditions for female vendors.
PPHPZ Country Coordinator Nelson Ncube highlighted the project’s focus on inclusive infrastructure that reflects the realities of informal traders, especially women and mothers. He noted that Soweto Market is one of Zambia’s busiest commercial centres, but persistent issues with sanitation and shelter have disproportionately affected female vendors.
“This project addresses both sanitation and social inclusion,” Mr. Ncube stated. “It’s designed to improve not just health and safety, but also the dignity and working conditions of traders who are the backbone of this market.”
He added that the facility will incorporate eco-friendly sanitation technology, contributing to VCA’s broader climate resilience goals. Once completed, the center is expected to serve as a model for community-centred development – integrating public health, economic empowerment, and environmental sustainability in one of Lusaka’s most vital trading hubs.
