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ZAMBIA The Commission however did not do much in 2011 on its statutory advocacy function of “advising government on laws affecting competition and consumer protection”, mainly because that was the Election year, and there were many changes in the environment that made such advocacy work ing on two studies during that year. One is on the wheat sector and the other on anticompetitive practices in the mining industry. The Commission will also be presenting a paper on competition and public procurement and corruption to Parliament in February 2012. The Commission’s other advocacy and awareness work has included the following: (i) publication of a weekly column on competition and consumer issues in The Post newspaper, which has the largest circulation in Zambia; (ii) appearing on the television, and speaking on the country’s various radio stations, on consumer protection issues; (iii) touring the country’s nine Provinces on awareness campaigns; and (iv) releasing Press Releases on case handling. It is also publishing a quarterly Newsletter with a wide local and international circulation. The Commission’s newspaper column in The Post October 2011, and was on its recent sensitization and enforcement tour of the Eastern Province of Zambia. It was reported that the aim of the tour was to register the presence and functions of the Commission to both traders and consumers in the Province, sensitize consumers on their rights and obligations, and how to lodge complaints with Commission also held a public lecture at the Lusaka University’s Economics Department on competition and consumer protection policy and law. The 2010 Annual Report of the Commission analyses the Commission’s performance against targets in the area of advocacy and public relations during that year, as shown in Table 9 below. The above clearly shows that the Commission is doing a lot in sensitizing the business community and general public on competition and consumer protection issues, and this was generally acknowledged by most stakeholders that were interviewed 2011. Some stakeholders however still felt not enough was being done. For example, there are 157 concerns that the visibility of the Commission is still low (Bank of Zambia, Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission, Economics Association of Zambia) and that the Commission needs to have physical representation in all the major centres of the country (Zambia Development Agency, Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission, Economics Association of Zambia). There are also expectations that the Commission should educate and sensitize the business community on various anticompetitive practices and the general implementation of competition policy and law, as well as on its responsibilities to consumers (Pensions and Insurance Authority, Zambia Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, CUTS International, Musa Dudhia & Co.). Greater education of consumers of their rights and how they can effectively channel their complaints was also stressed (Pensions and Insurance Authority, Economics Association of Zambia). ing visit that lack of awareness of the public on both competition and consumer issues is a formidable challenge it is facing. For example, monopolization is often not reported to the Commission for investigation because of lack of awareness of its adverse effects. Enterprises in dominant or monopoly positions are also feared for possible retaliation if their abusive practices are reported to the Commission because of lack of knowledge of how the whistleblowers can be protected by the Commission. The awareness of consumer issues in Zambia was found to be relatively higher than that of competition issues. Most stakeholders that were interviewed cited consumer concerns, such as disclaimers and ‘no return’ provisions, sale of inferior goods and expired products, and copyright infringements, as the major concerns in the implementation of competition and consumer protection policy and law. Competition concerns cited were limited to predation, abuse of dominance, or monopolization, tying arrangements, and collusive and cartel-like behaviour, mostly in regulated sectors. Even the Zambia Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the “Voice of the private sector”, was more concerned over consumer issues than over traditional competition issues. While the Commission’s advocacy work is commendable, there is need for more resources to be ZAMBIA
158 VOLUNTARY PEER REVIEW OF CLP: A TRIPARTITE REPORT ON THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA – ZAMBIA – ZIMBABWE Table 9: Commission Performance against Targets on Advocacy and Public Relations in 2010 Objective Target Performance Results To minimize the weak corporate domestic image of ZCC Political Support ZCC principle competition advocate Lack of knowledge by professionals Source: CCPC 2010 Annual Report media workshop and 2 breakfast meetings. Improve and promote the Commission’s website and Newsletter to be produced quarterly. Run a 13-serie programme on community radio stations and a 13-week one hour programme on ZNBC television. At least have 5 presentations per quarter. Hold workshops for trade associations. Five provincial works. Hold two national school competitions. Hold 1 workshop with curriculum A total of 47 articles were published in The Post newspaper, and 4 were published in the Commerce Gazette, ZACCI Journal, and African Consumer Dialogue Newsletter. Produced and circulated editions of e-Newsletters. Participated on 10 ZNBC TV programmes and 5 ZNBC TV interviews. Ran 1 interactive TV programme with CUTS, and produced and broadcasted 8 radio programme series on ZNBC Radio 2. Made 4 presentations to Zambia Institute of Marketing (ZIM) conference, Citizens’ Economic Empowerment, and Zambia Development Agency (2) forums. 24 radio programmes on 7 mostly Lusaka based radio stations on the role of ZCC. 8 presentations/ lectures to 8 highs schools/ colleges. Commemorated World Consumer Rights Day on 15 March 2010 and distributed brochures to the public. Published 7 types of brochures with funding from EDF. Issued 31 press releases on various competition and consumer issues used consistently by at least 15 major media organizations. 60 mentions in three major daily newspapers, namely Zambia Daily Mail, Times of Zambia, and The Post. 42 news mentions on ZNBC and Muvi TV stations. Distributed at least 5 000 brochures across 4 events on Consumer Beware, Know Your Consumer Rights, Lodging a Complaint & Redress Process. Exhibited at Zambia International Trade Fair. Held presentations to Committee of National Assembly on ZNBC (Amendment) Bill 2010 on competition and consumer protection. 1 UNCTAD Stakeholders seminar on competition and development. 2 workshops presentations on the role of ZCC in promoting competitiveness to multi-stakeholders in Mansa and Kabwe. 1 stakeholder seminar on the Competition and Consumer Protection Act, No.24 of 2010. Reason for Variance The Department (i.e., the Consumer and Public Relations Department) faced challenges such as inadequacy of funds to conduct radio programmes in selected community radio stations, the website and TV spot announcements in local languages.
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Page 176 and 177: ZIMBABWE TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE
Page 178 and 179: ZIMBABWE This report is part of the
Page 180 and 181: ZIMBABWE With the growing political
Page 182 and 183: ZIMBABWE of restrictive practices,
Page 184 and 185: ZIMBABWE competition authorities do
Page 186 and 187: ZIMBABWE divided according to geogr
Page 188 and 189: ZIMBABWE The Commission in 2006 whi
Page 190 and 191: ZIMBABWE to take care of themselves
Page 192 and 193: ZIMBABWE (under Section 9); basical
Page 194 and 195: ZIMBABWE Full scale investigation i
Page 196 and 197: ZIMBABWE (ii) to produce any book,
Page 198 and 199: ZIMBABWE The fact that CTC has a co
Page 200 and 201: ZIMBABWE tariat of technocrats, who
Page 202 and 203: ZIMBABWE Table 2: Number of Competi
Page 204 and 205: ZIMBABWE Regarding the handling of
Page 206 and 207: ZIMBABWE (Emphasis by the author) b
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ZIMBABWE Anti competitive agreement
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ZIMBABWE by conducting its case det
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