Member of Parliament Aderito Hugo da Costa has raised concerns about vendors who live in marketplaces, as these sites are designated for commercial activities and are not suitable homes.
“The market is to sell goods, not a place for people to live, go to school or anything else,” the Parliament Deputy President said.
He called for serious action on the issue.
“We see the Comoro old market being used by the community as homes, not as a place to sell goods,” he said.
He said only vendors who worked consistently deserved positions in the marketplace.
“They have to be consistent in selling their products at the market,” he said.
“They can’t sell today but tomorrow ignore it.
“Such vendors do not deserve places at the market.
“This is a public market, not a private one.
Comoro resident Jeferino da Silva said the government should penalize those who live in the market.
“If they do not obey the rules which exist, they should receive a penalty,” he said.
“We live in a democratic state and we have to obey rules.
“Not everyone can do whatever they want.”
Da Silva said the quality of the Comoro old market was suffering under the strain of the live-in vendors and their animals.
Santa Cruz xefi suco Manuel Correia said the community used the market as a home due to lack of intervention by the government.
“There should be an appropriate mechanism to control this,” he said.
He said the lack of property laws made it difficult to determine what was state property.
“We cannot just talk, we need to do something tangible so the law protects our rights,” he said.
