Consumer rights will be upheld by Government through promotion of fair trade practices in line with objectives of Vision 2030, Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndhlovu said yesterday at a ceremony to rebrand the Trade Measures Department.

Staff now wear a new uniform and the Minister handed over new vehicles for the department’s operations.

“This occasion is a huge milestone and a crucial step in fostering efforts towards attainment of the broader national Vision 2030.

“This vision aims to transform Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income society, and Trade Measures plays a pivotal role in achieving this goal.

“The Vision 2030 means committing to economic growth, social equity, and sustainable development. In this regard, the work of my Ministry through Trade Measures Department directly contributes to these objectives by promoting fair trade practices, ensuring standardisation of measurements, and protecting consumers.

“It is against this background that we are building momentum to ensure that the Trade Measures Department becomes a centre of excellence with improved operational efficiency and effectiveness,” Minister Ndhlovu said.

The new branding will enhance the inspectors’ visibility and create an increased sense of pride for the team to fight against illicit trading practises that are bent on fleecing consumers.

The Minister said the six vehicles he handed over yesterday would enable staff to reach every part of the country and plans were afoot to provide the Department with mobile laboratories to enable work in remote areas.

“We have also recently appointed seven new inspectors in May this year. The seven, comprising four females and three males, have already resumed duty, and further arrangements are being made to increase the number of inspectors to at least 10 per province from the current average of three per province.

“This will help to increase coverage to all corners of the country so that all businesses and consumers can benefit from the service of Trade Measures,” he said.

The Ministry had also started a legislative review of the Trade Measures Act with Cabinet having approved the principles of the Bill.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Chief Secretary for Policy Analysis, Co-ordination, Devolution and Development Planning in the Office of the President and Cabinet Mr Willard Manungo commended Minister Ndhlovu for his swift response to President Mnangagwa’s directive for regulatory agencies to amplify their presence and efficiency to effectively deal with businesses malpractices.

“With the shelf occupancy of locally manufactured goods being now around 80 percent if not more, it is critical that these goods be in the right quantities and right quality to ensure value for money for our citizenry and also to export markets, especially in view of the African Continental Free Trade Area,” Mr Manungo said.

Trade Measures Department representative and board member Ms Roselyn Charehwa welcomed the rebranding of the department in making it a world class institution.

“The rebranding is intended to amplify the activities of the Trade Measures Department and align with activities and efforts towards a world class institution for economic and social progress of the nation by 2030,” she said.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Mr Mucha Mukanganwi welcomed efforts to deal with sub-standard and illicit products. “We are here to support your actions Honourable Minister (Ndhlovu) in ensuring that our consumers get the best deal at the correct prices.”

Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers president Dr Denford Mutashu said: “This programme has come at the right time when consumers across the country have been complaining because there has been serious issues of underweight products, fake sugar, fake livestock products and generally fake products and uncertified products being smuggled across the country.”

He called on Government to increase the number of inspectors countrywide from the current 23.

Farirai Machivenyika, Senior Reporter – Herald