CCPC seizes expired baby formula from Kamwala shop
By Ndinawe Simpelwe
Wed 19 Oct. 2011, 15:20 CAT
THE Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) have seized
69 tins of expired S26 infant formula worth K2.2 million from a named
wholesaler in Kamwala trading centre.
CCPC public relations officer Vaida Bunda confirmed in a statement
that the products were seized on Thursday last week after a combined
team of Zambia Police, Intellectual Property Unit, the Public Health
Department of the Lusaka City Council and the CCPC pounced on the
wholesaler.
Bunda stated that the sale of expired products was prohibited under
section 45 (a) and (b) of the Competition and Consumer Protection
Commission which states that "a trading practice is unfair if it
misleads consumers or compromises the standard of honesty and good
faith which an enterprise can reasonably be expected to meet and
thereby distorts, or is likely to distort, the purchasing decisions of
consumers".
Bunda stated that the CCPC had in the past few months received
numerous complaints about the infant formula and would carry out
inspections to ensure that any baby milk or other food products unfit
for consumption were not sold to consumers.
She further stated that culprits found in breach of the law would be
fined and where necessary, products will be recalled from the market.
"The Commission is of the view that the sale of expired baby milk is a
serious matter which should not be taken lightly and hence after
consultations with relevant stakeholders and the manufacturers as well
as the conclusion of investigations, a product recall may be
considered," she stated.
"The commission would therefore like to urge parents to ensure that
when buying the S26 baby milk they check for the expiry dates as a
precautionary measure for any health implications on babies that might
arise from consumption of expired milk.
We have also been observed
that most traders still want to sell the baby formula even after it
has expired and will conceal the original expiry date by placing a
sticker on top of it with a new date of expiry. The consumer should
try and scratch off the sticker to determine if there is another date
of expiry below it."
Bunda stated that the commission would continue advising the public on
what to look for on a genuine tin of S26 infant formula as it
investigated more on the matter and urged the public to report any
such matter.
The Commission has also noted that all the complaints received were
Lusaka-based and urged consumers with similar complaints from other
provinces to report to CCPC.
And Bunda has stated that 10 per cent of 300 shops that were inspected
were still displaying disclaimers in their shops despite the
prohibition by the CCPC to do so.
Bunda stated that traders that would be found with "no refund, no
return" disclaimers in their trading premises would be fined up to a
maximum of 10 per cent of their annual turnover as provided for in the
law.
Labels: CONSUMERS, PUBLIC HEALTH, VAIDA BANDA
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Consumers need protection from contaminated food - ZACA
By Edwin Mbulo
Thu 14 July 2011, 09:40 CAT
WE need robust, well resourced institutions which should be able to protect consumers against contaminated food, says a consumer advocate.
Commenting on the just-ended world food standard body, the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission meeting which resolved that governments are free to decide on whether and how to label foods derived from modern biotechnology, including foods containing genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) executive secretary Muyunda Ililonga said food issues need high standards.
“It’s one thing to develop standards and another to adhere to them. We need well-resourced institutions such as the Zambia Bureau of Standards. They need to be well equipped in human resource and finance to be able to function. We need robust institutions which should be able to protect consumers against contaminated food,” Ililonga said.
He said standards institutions in Zambia and other African countries faced a big problem when it came to resources despite being backed by good legislation.
Ililonga said ZACA has advocated mandatory labelling of food packages to show whether a product was genetically modified so as to give a choice to consumers.
“We support the position taken by the Codex Alimentarius Commission to safeguard consumers from bio-technology whose outcome may harm the health of the consumer,” he said.
Ililonga said there was a lot of concern on GMOs and certain additives which need to be addressed by the Zambian government.
According a press statement made available by Aphaluck Bhatiasevi, the World Health Organisation communications officer, a decision which will help inform consumers make choices regarding genetically-modified foodstuffs was taken at the 34th session of the Codex Commission held in Geneva from July 4 to July 9, with 184 member countries, the UN, inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations in attendance.
“The meeting of world food standard body, Codex Alimentarius Commission World food standard body, the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission has stated that governments are free to decide on whether and how to label foods derived from modern biotechnology, including foods containing genetically-modified organisms,” stated Bhatiasevi. “The labelling should be done in conformity with the text approved by the Codex Commission, to avoid potential trade barrier.”
Labels: CONSUMERS, GMOS, ZACA
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PRA says illegal drug stores a big problem
By Mwila Chansa-Ntambi
Sun 03 July 2011, 04:00 CAT
THE problem of illegal drug stores is big, says Pharmaceuticals Regulatory Authority (PRA) regulatory officer Dr Zuma Munkombwe. In an interview at the on-going Zambia International Trade Fair in Ndola, Dr Munkombwe observed that the problem of illegal drug stores was common especially in areas that did not have registered pharmacies.
“We try to educate the public and the people involved that they cannot carry on with business of selling medicines if they do not have qualified people and if they themselves are not qualified,” he said.
Dr Munkombwe said PRA’s awareness activities had generated public interest because most people were now aware of the dangers associated with the illegal sale of drugs.
He said the public needed to know that medicines sold in registered pharmacies or those accessed from hospitals underwent rigorous processes before being authorised to sell in Zambia hence the quality of these medicines was assured.
“We did a survey to look at medicines being sold in pharmacies and we found that over 95 percent are registered medicines and the bit that was not registered was allowed to come in into the country under special circumstances,” he said.
Dr Munkombwe added that PRA also regulated medicines intended for animal use because animals equally needed quality medicines.
And interpreting this year’s theme, ‘Innovation for Competitiveness’, PRA public relations officer Ludovic Mwape said the theme meant embracing relevant new technologies such as ICTs for the benefit of both the public and the pharmaceutical industry.
Mwape said to PRA, the theme also meant improving internal and external collaboration with other agencies such as the Zambia Bureau of Standards, the Drug Enforcement Commission and other stakeholders in intensifying inspections.
Labels: CONSUMERS, MEDICINE
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Dollarisation a boon for capitalists
by Takura Zhangazha
14/12/2010 00:00:00
EVER since the dollarisation of our national economy, it has become common public opinion that ‘things have improved’. This improvement is directly related to the fact that goods are now available on the supermarket shelves and elsewhere.
What is, however, not questioned is whether these now available goods or services are accessible or affordable to the majority of Zimbabwe’s low income earners. Instead, what is now apparent is that both the government and big businesses are functioning on the basis of the dictum ‘take it or leave it, so long as it’s better than what was there before dollarisation’.
For many economists, there would be nothing fundamentally wrong with the above cited dictum. In fact it fully serves to augment the purpose for which business exists -- which is profit no matter the circumstance. And this is why since the introduction of a multi-currency national economy, business has been milking the meagre incomes of the majority mercilessly.
Some readers might argue that to define the operations of corporate business as merciless might be misleading, but the fact is the examples are now too glaring to ignore.
To begin with, the reinvigorated expansion of our telecommunications network via the licensed mobile telephone service providers must be welcomed and viewed with the greatest of caution. Because one of the most sought-after electronic gadgets in the country is the cell phone, the marketing around this has become preposterous if not downright dishonest. In the chase for the dollar of the Zimbabwean consumer, the mobile telephone companies are bordering on being ruthless.
Take for example a mobile phone company which is now offering life insurance via the topping-up of airtime in collaboration with a life insurance company. The exact contractual arrangements of this life insurance are glossed over and are motivated by trying as far as is possible to ensure maximum exploitation of the consumer on -- an issue which normally would be much more serious than a text message to a subscriber.
The extent and nature of the coverage or how relatives of subscribers to the same will benefit are unclear until you have paid a part of the requisite payment via re-charging your phone’s airtime.
Another example is that of our now ever mushrooming supermarkets that are doing service through inducing an exaggerated consumer culture in the country. The fact that they are selling South African goods and by so doing not assisting our own local industries, means that they are operating purely on the basis of an unsustainable profit. Or a profit that relies totally on the ability of the South African manufacturing industry to supply us with finished goods and products in a manner that makes Zimbabwe similar to Swaziland and Lesotho.
But because their primary purpose is unmitigated profit, they will not see the linkage, hence the arrival of Pick ‘n Pay amongst others onto the scene without any clear plan of how they will boost local production of goods and increase employment.
A third example is that of our health services sector. This sector has become a multi-million dollar spinning enterprise minus any clear public benefit. With the complicity of health-related non-governmental organisations, the health industry has taken advantage of issues relating to fear of mortality to make a super profit.
The very basic maxim of the health services is that if one does not have money, one does not get treated. Even if a medical doctor wants to assess a patient for free, the equipment, drugs and other related products are beyond the reach of many. The NGOs weigh in by arguing about private-public partnerships which to all intents and purposes are a euphemism for profit making at the expense of public access to reliable health services.
Even ARV distribution is a big business with better versions of the latter being the preserve of the rich, together with the attendant medical supervision. That is perhaps why the funeral services are making a huge profit burying our fellow citizens as though it were normal for death to be a roaring enterprise.
A fourth and final example is that of our education services sector. The outsourcing of education to private colleges or commercial school development associations has led to exorbitant tuition fees being charged on parents who barely make more than US$150 a month. The universities and other tertiary learning institutions are taking advantage of parents’ basic intention to get their children the best education possible by charging fees that lead to a profit that no-one is clear as to where it ends up.
Occasionally, a school/college bus will be bought as a demonstration of where the money is going but to all intents and purposes, this is largely a cover up for profits that intend to milk the parent/guardian to the last cent.
So as we all go for Christmas, some with a bonus, others without, we must be conscious of the dishonest manner in which private and commercialised state enterprises are functioning. It is now their primary purpose to milk every dollar that a Zimbabwean citizen has to the last cent. Their tactics include emotional blackmail in the case of a relative, friend or child falling ill or needing an education befitting best practices.
They will also function on utilising every other opportunity that emerges to make a super profit, regardless of how unsustainable it is for the national economy or the betterment of the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe.
As far as can be discerned, it is private business that has benefitted the most from the GPA and its inclusive government. And at this rate, it shall continue to be the same.
Labels: CONSUMERS, DOLLARISATION, MOBILE PHONES
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ZCC bans ‘no return, no refund’ displays
Friday, November 5, 2010, 8:38
THE Zambia Competition Commission (ZCC) has said the new Competition and Consumer Protection Act (CCPC) makes it a punishable offence to display disclaimers such as ‘No Return, No Refund’ in trading places. The CCPC Act No .24 of 2010, which is yet to be operational, prohibits such disclaimers which consumers have complained about.
“Zambia is one of the countries that have a lot of defective products on its market and it has been unfair for traders to deny consumers refunds or exchange even for defective products,” she said.ZCC public relations officer, Vaida Bunda said Section 48 (1) of the Act states that “an owner or occupier of a shop or other trading premises shall not cause to be displayed any sign or notice that purports to disclaim any liability or deny any right that a consumer has under the Act or any other written law.”
In a statement in Lusaka yesterday, Ms Bunda said the commission had within the mandate of the current Act been unable to prevent traders from displaying such disclaimers even where the goods sold were of questionable quality as the law was reactive.
“Zambia is one of the countries that have a lot of defective products on its market and it has been unfair for traders to deny consumers refunds or exchange even for defective products,” she said.
The new law, she said, was more proactive and would make it easier for the commission to handle cases of defective products because traders would be expressly prohibited to display the disclaimers.
The CCPA also makes it a punishable offence to display such disclaimers. The Act states that the person who or an enterprise which contravenes subsection (1) was liable to pay the commission a fine not exceeding 10 per cent of that person’s or enterprise’s annual turnover.
[Times of Zambia]
Labels: CCPA, CONSUMERS, VAIDA BANDA, ZCC
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CUTS Int. observes weaknesses in news consumer bill
By Kabanda Chulu and Fridah Zinyama
Tue 21 Sep. 2010, 15:30 CAT
CUTS International has observed that the new competition and consumer protection bill has some weaknesses that should be addressed immediately in order to ensure full consumer protection.
Parliament has passed the new bill, which is awaiting Presidential assent. The bill has new features that will strengthen the business competition regime and enforcement of consumer protection mechanism. But Consumer Unity Trust Society (CUTS) Zambia programme officer Simon Ngona said the proposed legislation has revealed some inadequacies.
“The bill recognises consumer protection only within the context of unfair trading practices but the scope should be beyond this because a consumer protection law generally not only outlines the eight basic consumer rights, but also have provisions explaining how the law helps to ensure that such rights will be met and given that by its name, the bill purports to be a consumer law but it is not and it has to be comprehensive for it to be in the interest of consumers,” Ngona said.
“For instance, the definition of a consumer in the bill is limited but should be wide enough to include not only direct consumers but also other beneficiaries such as any other user other than the buyer, purchaser or partly promised person of a good or service is also considered as a consumer, secondly, the composition of the commission itself needs to be clear.
It provides that five members with relevant experience will be appointed by the Minister of Commerce and Trade but if there is no clear mention of criterion of selection, such posts are filled up on political basis and it will be good if space is created for representation of Civil Society Organisations and other non-state actors.”
He noted that part VII on consumer protection of the bill mentions penalties for violation of provisions related to consumer protection but lacked any mechanism for grievance redress.
“It should clearly outline how any consumer can file complaint, where this could be done (jurisdiction), the manner or procedure to file the complaint as well as procedure of disposal of complaints and the role of other stakeholder such as consumer organisation should also be highlighted in the whole redress process,” said Ngona.
“It is therefore imperative that these issues are taken into account if consumer protection is to be enhanced in Zambia and once such issues are addressed, the commission will have the muscle to protect consumers and legitimate businesses will have somewhere to turn to when they fall victim to these fraudulent practices and it is also important for consumers to be proactive and also to take time to understand some of the statutes that are being constituted and those that are being enforced.”
Labels: CONSUMERS, CUTS, SIMON NGOMA
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ZCC cautions consumers on defective products
By Fridah Zinyama
Fri 18 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT
THE Zambia Competition Commission (ZCC) has cautioned consumers in the country to be cautious of substandard and defective products during this festive season.
In a press statement, ZCC director for Consumer and Public Relations Brian Lingela stated that unsuspecting consumers were normally duped into buying what seemed to be affordable but defective products during this period.
“The Commission reminds consumers that during the festive season, various traders are in the tradition of making several clearance promotions of their goods and it is easy for consumers to rush for such goods in view of the low prices at which they are sold,” he noted.
Lingela observed that in 2009, most of the complaints that the Commission received from consumers were on the sale of defective products.
“Consumers need to ensure that they make up their minds on the quality of products they buy especially electrical and electronic goods,” he cautioned. “During 2009, the Commission has endeavoured to secure refunds and replacements for consumers on assorted goods found to be defective. On two occasions, we have referred unsatisfied parties to the Small Claims Court for further adjudication.”
Lingela advised consumers who might buy defective products to report to the Commission for redress.
“If any consumer buys a product which is defective, they are advised to immediately report to the Zambia Competition Commission offices,” he stated. “The Commission will remain open during the festive season to receive various consumer complaints.”
Lingela further advised the public to shop responsibly during this festive season and ensure that they purchased quality products.
“The Commission, at this time of the season would also like to remind consumers that they have an obligation to shop around and ask the shop owner of the quality and origin of goods before making decision,” stated Lingela. “Further, consumers have an obligation to ask for warranties, guarantees and receipts on purchased goods so that they can be protected whenever they discover defects on purchased goods.”
Labels: CONSUMERS, ZCC
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ZCC warns supermarkets against selling harmful products
By Fridah Zinyama
Tue 03 Nov. 2009, 04:00 CAT
THE Zambia Competition Commission (ZCC) has warned all supermarkets in the country to desist from selling products that are harmful to health.
ZCC consumer and public relations director Brian Lingela stated that consumer protection in Zambia required concerted effort from all relevant authorities in the country. Lingela urged retailers to remove all expired products and products without expiry dates from their shelves as a matter of urgency before the law caught up with them.
“This is why we collaborated with Kitwe City Council (KCC), Ndola City Council (NDC) and Kabwe Municipal Council (KMC) which are mandated under the food and drugs Act 303 of the Laws of Zambia to enforce the prohibition of sale of foods or substances that are harmful to health,” he stated.
“For products that are about to expire, their prices must be reduced at least two weeks before the expiry date so that both businesses and consumers do not lose out. When such products are reduced, supermarkets are advised to place them in front to ensure visibility to consumers.”
Lingela further stated that the warning also applied to local business people selling in markets and tuntembas as they were not immune to the law.
“As Zambia strives to meet the Millennium Development Goal of attaining a healthy status for all citizens by 2015, we cannot afford to have Zambian consumers consume foods that are likely to cause injury to their health and contribute to an unhealthy nation,” he stated.
Lingela further advised all consumers in Zambia to exercise caution before they purchased any product especially food from any supermarket or shop.
“The public should ensure that they check when the product is expiring and even its quality before they make any purchases,” he stated.”As ZCC, we will continue collaborating with local authorities through out the country in ensuring that consumers are protected from unscrupulous business people whose only interest is to make profits.”
ZCC in collaboration with the three local authorities - KCC, NCC, and KMC - inspected Quicksave Supermarket, Panty Pride, Shoprite outlets, Bippo’s and Upper supermarkets.
“In these supermarkets, we found some food products that had expired, those without expiry dates and food products not labelled in Zambia’s official language - English,” Lingela stated.
“In other cases, we found that there was inadequate labelling thereby making it difficult for an ordinary consumer to know exactly what the product is.”
Labels: BRIAN LINGELA, CONSUMERS, FOOD, ZCC
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ZCC threatens to sue Spar over ‘unfit’ foods
Written by Fridah Zinyama
Thursday, October 01, 2009 1:03:48 AM
ZAMBIA Competition Commission (ZCC) has threatened to take legal action against Spar Zambia if it continues to sell consumable products which have no expiry dates or are unfit for human consumption. The threat comes following a complaint from a consumer who purchased a packet of strawberries from Spar Arcades which were decaying at the bottom of the pack.
At a press briefing in Lusaka on Tuesday, ZCC public relations officer Vaida Bunda said the sale of any food products which were not fit for consumption was against the law.
Section 12 (e) Cap 417 of the Laws of Zambia states that “a person shall not supply any product which is likely to cause injury to health or physical harm to consumers, when properly used, or which does not comply with a consumer safety standard which has been prescribed under any law.”
Bunda said ZCC was mandated under Section 12 of the competition and fair trading Act, Cap 417 of the Laws of Zambia to protect consumers against unfair trading.
“We receive a number of complaints from time to time regarding various goods and services provided within Zambia which consumers are concerned with,” she said.
Bunda explained that after receiving the said complaint from the consumer, ZCC, in collaboration with the public health department of the Lusaka City Council, conducted an on the spot inspection as the public health Act, Cap 295 of the Laws of Zambia empowered the public health department to carry out such checks.
“We inspected Spar Arcades and Spar Downtown and found several food products that either had no expiry dates, were expired, improperly packaged, improperly labelled/branded or had foreign matter contrary to consumer product safety requirements,” she said. “We noted that in some instances, Spar Arcades had two expiry dates indicated on some products and we advised that this was wrong as it had the propensity to mislead consumers contrary to Section 12(d) of the Cap 417 of the Laws of Zambia which provides that ‘a person shall not engage in conduct that is likely to mislead the public as to the nature, price, availability, characteristics, suitability for a given purpose, quantity or quality of any products or services’.”
Bunda added that the inspection team further noted that the storage facilities for bread were not in a good state as debris was found on the bread stored in the shop.
“The products found wanting were seized and management at both branches was warned that the Commission would prosecute them should this practice continue,” she said.
Bunda warned businesses engaged in the habit of selling expired products or products that were likely to cause injury or harm to consumers to stop the practice immediately.
“ZCC has taken this inspection as a warning and if they fail to adhere to the warning, we will take legal action,” she said.
Bunda encouraged Zambian consumers to always be wary of expiry dates and ensure that they only purchased products that were fit for human consumption.
Labels: CONSUMERS, FOOD, SPAR ARCADES, ZCC
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ZCC optimistic over enactment of consumer protection bill
Written by Florence Bupe
Monday, September 21, 2009 4:46:24 PM
THE Zambia Competition Commission (ZCC) has expressed optimism that the enactment of the Competition and Consumer Protection Bill will address the inadequacies in the provision of consumer protection in Zambia.
ZCC consumer and public relations director Brian Lingela stated that the institution was in support of the Bill as it would help strengthen the legal framework governing consumer affairs in the country.
“The Zambia Competition Commission welcomes President Rupiah Banda’s announcement that government will be introducing a Competition and Consumer Protection Bill in Parliament soon to strengthen the legal framework governing competition and consumer protection in Zambia,” he stated.
Lingela observed that the current competition and fair trading Act Cap 417 of the Laws of Zambia was inadequate in providing comprehensive consumer protection.
He expressed contentment that the Bill, which was already in an advanced stage, would come to fruition and help improve the consumer protection environment in the country.
“We are impressed that this process has actually already reached an advanced stage, as the Ministry of Justice is working on a draft in readiness for submission to Parliament by the Minister of Commerce. This will result in the amendment and subsequent replacement of the competition and fair trading Act,” he stated.
Lingela hoped that the new law would give legal powers to ZCC to mete out punishment to offenders, as opposed to the current system where the commission relied on courts.
“The court process has a tendency to take long before consumers derive benefits. We also envisage that the commission will have powers to seize and destroy defective goods after consultation with relevant statutory boards,” he stated.
Once the new law is enacted, ZCC is set to be renamed the Zambia Competition and Consumer Commission (ZCCC).
Labels: BRIAN LINGELA, CONSUMERS, ZCC
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Mutati urges ZCC to form regulatory framework for consumer protection
Written by Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Friday, January 23, 2009 6:56:22 AM
COMMERCE minister Felix Mutati has urged the Zambia Competition Commission (ZCC) to come up with a regulatory framework for consumer protection by the end of this year.
And Mutati has announced
a reduction of between 33 to 80 per cent in trade licence fees under the trading Act, a move he said would help to reduce the cost of doing business in the country.
Speaking when the European Union handed over eight operational vehicles worth K875 million to three statutory bodies under the commerce ministry for capacity building, Mutati said in the current scenario of private sector led economy, it was important that consumer interests were protected through a regulatory framework.
The statutory bodies that received the vehicles included Zambia Bureau of Standards, Zambia Competition Commission and the Zambia Weights and Measures Agency.
Mutati said the three statutory bodies were vital in promoting and regulating trade in the country and creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.
“Beyond merely looking after the vehicles, there is need for my friends from these bodies to scale up efforts for improving service delivery,” Mutati said. “For my colleagues at ZCC, your strategic plan needs to come out this year. The critical legal framework for safeguarding interests of consumers needs to come out this year.”
And announcing the downward revision of the trade licence fees during a press briefing later on, Mutati urged the local authorities in the country to implement the revised licence fees in a professional manner.
Mutati also stressed that the government did not expect local authorities in the country to suffer revenue losses as the licenses prescribed under the trades licenses Act were not meant to collect revenue but to regulate conduct of trade.
He also announced that the reduced licence fees issued under the trade licenses Act cap 393 came into effect on December 22, 2008.
“It has come to our attention that some council officials are sometimes overzealous in collecting the fees and end up harassing people. This is simply unacceptable,” said Mutati. “It is my sincere hope that stakeholders will co-operate with the local authorities in the implementation of the statutory instrument.”
Labels: CONSUMERS, FELIX MUTATI, LICENSES, REGULATION, ZCC
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Consumer body cries for 'teeth'
By Joan Chirwa
Wednesday March 19, 2008 [03:00]
ZAMBIA Competition Commission (ZCC) has been inactive in enforcing existing laws due to the absence of punitive measures against offenders, commission director for consumer welfare and education Chilufya Sampa has said. In an interview, Sampa said the major problem that the competition commission has had in terms of enforcing consumer laws was the non-existence of punitive measures, as the current court process was time-consuming and costly on the part of the commission and consumers.
“If we need to take someone to task, we have to go through the courts but that is not effective. We have used advocacy instead and we have not taken anyone to court over the last 10 years,” Sampa said. “We have come to realise that this is a weakness on the part of the competition commission for not being able to take people to task over various complaints that we receive from consumers around the country.”
Sampa noted the need for the amendment of the Consumer and Fair Trading Act for it to be more effective in terms of enforcement of the laws.
“The current court processes take so long, so this is why we have just been using advocacy methods in dealing with complaints on products from the consumer. This method is however not the best, but it is quicker compared the court process,” Sampa said. “Because of the absence of punitive measures, we have a number of companies coming out in consumer complaints every now and then. We are now even thinking of just taking some of these companies to court even if the process takes long and is an expensive venture.”
The competition commission last year handled a total of 62 consumer cases on misleading information, deceptive products and foreign particles in foodstuffs, among others.
Labels: CHILUFYA SAMPA, CONSUMERS, ZCC
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‘Enact consumer protection law’
By NANCY MWAPE
GOVERNMENT has been urged to expedite the enactment a comprehensive consumer protection law as the country commemorates the
World Consumer Rights Day. The Consumer Rights Day, which falls on March 15, is an annual event commemorated worldwide. Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) executive secretary, Muyunda Ililonga said in an interview yesterday that the association was happy that Government had for the time, taken the effort to celebrate the World Consumer Rights Day.
Mr Ililonga said the commemoration of the day was a sign of the beginning of a cordial relationship that would recognise the rights of consumers.
He said issues of consumer rights had been included in the drafted constitutions highlighting the importance of enacting a comprehensive consumer protection law.
Mr Ililonga said Government should address concerns by consumers like increases in goods and services.
“Sky-rocketing prices of goods and services are making cost of living very expensive for Zambians,” he said.
He also called on Government to strengthen institutions such as the Zambia Bureau of Standards and Zambia Weights and Measures Agency.
“There is need to strengthen the statutory bodies because the country has been flooded with substandard products and under weight goods following the liberalisation of the economy,” he said.
He said it was important for Government to critically look at the plight of rural consumers and the disabled people.
Earlier, Commerce, Trade and Industry, permanent secretary, Davidson Chilipamushi, in a statement said, “The ministry has this year initiated the commemoration of this important day under the theme: “Raising Awareness on Consumer Rights and Obligations.”
Mr Chilipamushi said the ministry has lined up activities that would start from Northmead Shopping Centre, then inspection of shops and the market by the Commerce Trade and Industry minister, Felix Mutati.
He said this would be followed by a march to Arcades where Mr Mutati would give a speech.
The ministry has since called on all regulators, statutory bodies, civic groups, community based organisations, local Government authorities, schools, service providers and all consumers to participate in the Consumer rights day.
Labels: CONSUMERS
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