Zambia’s CCPC here to stay prods Executive Director Chilufya Sampa

Notice: Undefined index: catFilterList in /home/zambi/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-likes/api.php on line 243

small-groups-pdf-version       By SibesoNalufu and Derrick Sinjela

COMPETITION and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) Executive Director Chilufya Sampa is worried that violation of consumers’ rights is still rampant 25 years after the economy was liberalised.

Officiating at the Inspectors’ Review Workshop, Mr. Sampa said the consumers’ rights body has continued to be violated by businesspersons.

“It has been over 25years since the economy was liberalized and close to 20 years of consumer protection enforcement in Zambia and yet we still find basic violations of consumer rights. These include the selling of defective and sub-standard products, unsafe products especially foodstuffs, misleading and deceptive conduct, warranties and guarantees to mention a few,” Sampa said a delighted at a Crossroads Lodge CCPC Inspectors Review Workshop.

Sampa added: “I also wish to appeal to consumers to be on the look-out for such unfair trading practices and to immediately report such conduct to CCPC using our toll free line or our provincial offices or to local inspectors.”

 

The workshop was organized by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission on “Enhancing the Enforcement of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act for the overall benefit of the consumers.

It targeted competition and consumer protection commission inspectors from the Ministry of Local Government and Housing and the Ministry of Health.

Sampa acknowledged the support of the Ministry of Local Government and Housing as well as the Ministry of Health in as far as implementing the inspectors’ project was concerned.

“I am very glad that the Commission and the two (2) have combined efforts to share ideas and learn from each other and this I must say is a timely intervention by the stakeholder’s involved.” Sampa said.

Sampa added that the workshop aimed at identifying gaps, reflecting on the terms of reference for the commission’s inspectors as well as finding substantial ways of improving the enhancement and enforcement of the Act in the various districts of Zambia.

Mr. Sampa said that it was heart breaking that Zambian consumers continue to be exploited even when the government had put in measures to prevent it.

Sampa explained that the Commission had just concluded its provincial sensitizations and advocacy tours in the Western and Luapula Provinces.

A gratified Sampa noted people’s sensitization and inspection programmes have since contributed in raising awareness of consumer rights and obligations and made the Commission to conclude 1,791 cases in 2005 as opposed to 827 in 2014.

Sampa urged inspectors to seriously contribute, participate and share knowledge and experiences so as to improve consumer protection in Zambia.  www.rainbownewszambia.com