Khat traders protest in Las’aanood town over new levies

Khat Business in Las’aanood town came to a standstill for hours Tuesday after women who sells Khat barricaded the busy main road protesting against high levies charged by the administration.

The placard-waving, women marched through various streets chanting slogans against officials for increasing the levies, which they said would render many of them jobless.

Activities at the usually busy town were paralyzed as the women closed their Kiosk premises to join in the demonstrations as they demanded to be addressed by the district commissioner of Las’aanood.

According to Mrs Ambaro Aqil, Khat trader, the levies have increased more than twofold over the past one year.

Aqil said they have incurred heavy losses.

Another Khat trader, Halimo Abdi said the traders are unhappy that the new charges that took effect this week have been increased more than two folds.

She said it is unfair and exploitative.

Abdi said the government should revert to the old rates.

She claimed khat traders were being harassed by enforcement officers daily.

“It has become very expensive to do khat business in this town with the high rates the government is charging,” she said.

“How does the government expect us to get profit and feed our families if they charge us even more than we make?” she asked.

She raised concerns, saying “We will not accept this and we will fight to the bitter end to ensure that the rates are revised to acceptable standards.”