The Lusaka City Council will start registering t r a d i t i o n a l h e a l e r s a n d herbalists next month because most of them are conducting illegal businesses Council public relations manager George Sichimba said in a statement yesterday that some traditional healers and those dealing in imported herbal medicine are doing so illegally.

Mr Sichimba said like any other business personnel, traditional healers are by law required to register with the local authority and obtain permits before undertaking their business. “The procedure is that after registering with the Traditional Health Practitioners Association of Zambia (THPAZ), traditional healers should proceed to the council and obtain permits,” Mr Sichimba said. He said the councils are by law mandated to register and regulate all businesses in their respective districts.

Mr Sichimba said many t r a d i t i o n a l h e a l e r s a n d individuals have not formalised their businesses. He said the situation makes it difficult for the local authority to monitor business activities. M r S i c h i m b a s a i d t h e registration exercise is meant to protect the public from being duped by people whose whereabouts and personal details cannot be traced.

“The council recently held a fruitful consultative meeting with THPAZ executive led by its president Rodwell Vongo. “We will also hold another meeting with traditional healers,” Mr Sichimba said. He said foreign traditional healers and herbalists will also be required to register with THPAZ and the council before being allowed to practise.