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Sikhulekelani Moyo, Business Reporter

THE on-going industrialisation agenda in the country should be buttressed by fair trading practices including using right sized measurements of trade so as to protect consumers, Industry and Commerce Minister, Dr Sekai Nzenza, has said.

Her sentiments come on the back of consumer outcry over rampant profiteering by some business players who peg prices of goods and services using illegal and speculative parallel market rates, dishonest measurements and selling of expired products in some cases.

Concerned about unfairness in the business sector, President Mnangagwa is also on record directing businesses to adopt fair business practices in support of the country’s transformation agenda.

President Mnangagwa

In a speech read on her behalf by Dr Douglas Runyowa, chief director commerce division during the Trade Measures Annual Conference and Strategic Planning workshop held in Masvingo on Monday, Dr Nzenza said fair trading practices were critical in enhancing good consumer relations and trust.

“As a ministry our focus under the National Development Strategy 1, is anchored on moving the economy up the value chain and structural transformation, where the main thrust is value addition and beneficiation,” she said. “However, this industrialisation agenda must be achieved through fair trading practices including using right sized measurements of trade,” said Dr Nzenza.

“It’s, therefore, important that issues of consumerism and other aspects of measurements be complied with to ensure that our public is protected in the area of trade, health and environment.”

She said it was in light of these that the ministry has a dual role of ensuring that industry remains competitive as well as facilitating the activities of trade to ensure full functionality of the Trade Measurers Department.

The Government enacted the Trade Measures Act to be used as a tool to protect consumers and enhance accurate and legal product packaging within the country’s borders and ensuring that the country aligns its trade measures with the approved regional and international standards.

The department is governed by a board whose membership is drawn from SIRDC-National Metrology Institute, as chair, Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ), Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce, (ZNCC) and Confederation of Zimbabwe industries (CZI) appointed to represent the interest of industry and commerce.

In line with the conference theme: ‘Legal metrology in the digital era’, Dr Nzenza said the Trade Measures Department must be more robust and visible in ensuring transparency of economic transactions, health and safety, and law enforcement.

“It is, therefore, imperative that we embrace digital technologies in our day to-day activities,” said the minister while stressing the need to come up with a strategy that interrogates existing legislation to match it to international best practice and current trends.

She also challenged the department to promote awareness and consumer education programmes regarding legal metrology and road map for the liberalisation of calibration and verification activities as well as considering self-regulation as an option.

In a bid to promote fairness in the business sector, Government also set up an independent body, the Consumer Protection Commission, established by the Consumer Protection Act, to ensure that consumer rights are protected. — @SikhulekelaniM1