‘Build robust statutory regulatory systems’

By NKWETO MFULA

THE Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) has urged Government to build up a robust statutory regulatory system that will bring confidence amongst members of the public following a lot of infringements on the local market by various players in the country’s economy. ZACA executive secretary Muyunda Ililonga says Government through the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry should find ways to harmonise the regulatory system.
“There are more than 10 statutory regulatory bodies in Zambia but they are not working as expected by consumers. consumers are still complaining of a lot of infringements,” he said.
Speaking in an interview in Ndola yesterday, Mr Ililonga said statutory regulators should be strengthened to enforce the Act to the benefit of consumers.
Government created the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Zambia Bureau of Standards with a view to superintending over matters of commerce and fair trade.
However, Mr Ililonga expressed concern that lack of funding and under-staffing in regulatory systems has contributed to poor performance.
The telecommunication, water and traffic sectors have statutory bodies which he said were not performing to the expectation of consumers.
“Government should come up with a robust statutory regulatory body to redress consumers’ complaints, it is surprising that consumers are complaining day and night,” he said.
He cited the poor services in telecommunication sector which were not benefiting the public as an urgent matter that should be addressed by the regulator in the sector.
Mr Ililonga said the welfare of consumers is at risk as a result of manufacturers, service providers’ engagement into all sorts of anti-competitive behaviour.
“The statutory bodies should superintend on uncompetitive behaviour for the benefit of consumers,” he said.
He also said that lack of fair trade affected businesses in the country.
Mr Ililonga said street vendors are also providing unfair trade as they operated outside shops where owners of the properties paid tax.
He said Zambian market was liberalised with a view of promoting trade to result into improved various service deliveries to consumers.
“Despite the economy being liberalised there is loss of benefits on the part of consumers,” he said.

Daily Mail