Maravi

‘Amendments to registration of business names Bill will remove bureaucracy’

‘Amendments to registration of business names Bill will remove bureaucracy’
By Namatama Mundia
Fri 19 Mar. 2010, 04:00 CAT

THE Patents and Company Registration Office (PACRO) has said the proposed amendments to the registration of business names Bill will remove the unnecessary bureaucracy in the enforcement of the statute.

Making a submission to the parliamentary committee on economic affairs and labour chaired by Zambezi West UPND member of parliament Charles Kakoma on Wednesday, PACRO registrar Anessie Banda-Bobo said besides harmonising the registration of business Act with the Patents and Companies Registration Agency Bill, the amendments would rectify ‘conceptual oversights’ or ‘conceptual flaws’ such as placing under the minister matters that were purely administrative.

“This should enable the agency to efficiently and effectively enforce compliance with the statute. The ultimate result should be a more orderly business sector,” she said.

Banda-Bobo said it was important to note that the proposed amendments did not introduce any new requirements.

“If anything, they simplify the procedure. There would be no need for instance, to appeal to the minister, a procedure that can be cumbersome. Easing the appeal process on its own should be an incentive for compliance,” Banda-Bobo said. “On the other hand, the minister will be allowed to focus on policy matters and providing overall guidance in the administrative of the Act.”

She said an amendment to Section 15(1) seeks to free the minister from matters that were purely administrative.

On concerns by committee members that the registrar would abuse authority if power was vested in them, Banda-Bobo said there would be a board in case of an appeal.

Nchanga PF member of parliament Wylbur Simuusa noted that there was no provision for an appeal in the Bill.

In response, Banda-Bobo said she would bring the matter to the attention of the Ministry of Justice.

She also said PACRO was constrained with lack of proper infrastructure to carry out a countrywide online registration.

However, Banda-Bobo said her office had been conducting rural mobile registration every month.

Banda-Bobo said this in response to Kakoma who wanted to know if PACRO was considering going online.

Labels: CHARLES KAKOMA, PACRO

posted by MrK @ 2:17 PM