Lusaka, June 20, 2018
On 20 June 2018 the Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS) International, Lusaka and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Protea Hotel. The objective of this MOU is toimplement projects of mutual interest relating to competition and consumer protection issues.
Opening the signing ceremony, the Executive Director of the CCPC, Mr Chilufya Sampa, indicated that as an organisation the CCPC has been open to working with NGOs as provided by the legislation, however, with the exception of CUTS and the Child Fund, there are no other npn-state actors that work on consumer issues.
He noted that this is particularly disappointing given that the Competition and Consumer Protection Act allows for the collaboration. He added that it is necessary for other organisations to begin to work on consumer issues as it is important for heads to work together in protecting consumers. He noted that CUTS has always been an all-weather friend to the CCPC and that many of its pieces of research have informed the country’s legislations, processes, markets and policies. It is therefore befitting that an MOU be signed in order to further enhance the working relationship of the two institutions.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, CUTS Centre Coorindator, Ms Chenai Mukumba stated that CUTS is a civil society organisation which has been functioning in Zambia since the year 2000. The organisation has been functioning as a centre for research, advocacy and networking on issues of Trade and Development,Competition Policy, Investment Regulation and Consumer Protection. In order to undertake its work CUTS collaborates with other like-minded CSOs, associations and government institutions, particularly the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
She explained that as a result of this MOU,CCPC and CUTS will continue to cooperate in research and sensitizationof activities with the objective of generating awareness about competition law and policy and consumer rights amongst relevant stakeholders in Zambia.She added that working together CCPC and CUTS willalso implement capacity building activities with the objective of creating a better understanding of competition issues in Zambia and the methodologies for effective implementation of competition law.
She concluded by saying that CUTS and the CCPC have a long history of collaborating and working together. Therefore, the MoU is simply a formalization of a relationship that has been ongoing for many years. The MOU was signed by the by CPCC Executive Director, Mr Chilufya Sampa, and CUTS board member, Mr. Yusuf Dodia. Mr Yusuf Dodia concluded the meeting by reiterating that the MoU will further strengthen the two institutions collaboration in efforts to safeguard the rights of consumers.
For further information please contact:
Chenai Mukumba at cm@cuts.org or 097 8055 293.