THE Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has revoked the Lusaka City Council’s resolution to rename Simon Mwewa Lane Market.
The full council meeting held earlier today, May 8, 2026, had resolved to rename the market to “HH Lumumba Market” with immediate effect.The decision drew mixed reactions. Chitambala Mwewa, son of the late Simon Mwewa and a Lusaka mayoral aspirant, expressed displeasure with the change. He claimed the renaming was meant to frustrate him politically.
In a statement issued this evening, Ministry Permanent Secretary Nicholas Phiri announced the reversal.
“I wish to inform the nation that the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Gift Sialubalo, MP, in exercise of the powers vested in him under Section 77(i)(b) of the Local Government Act No. 2 of 2019, has with immediate effect revoked the resolution of the Lusaka City Council’s full council meeting convened today to rename the Simon Mwewa Lane Market,” Mr Phiri said.
He added: “Let me emphasize that it is important for all local authorities across the country to embrace the culture of consultation and consensus building when dealing with matters of public interest and historical significance.”
(Mwebantu, Friday, 8th May, 2026)