Restrictive Business Practices

Latest News

All News Annual Report Judgements Our Facebook Page Our Twitter Page

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR TWO (2) PROFESSIONAL POSTS AT THE COMESA COMPETITION COMMISSION

2023-01-12

The COMESA Competition Commission ("the Commission") is a regional body corporate established under Article 6 of the COMESA Competition Regulations (“the Regulations”) promulgated under Article 55 of the COMESA Treaty. The Commission is responsible for promoting competition and enhancing the welfare of consumers in the Common Market.

The main functions of the Commission are to monitor markets and investigate anticompetitive business practices, control mergers and other forms of acquisitions in the Common Market and mediate disputes between the Member States concerning anticompetitive conduct. The Commission commenced its operations on 14th January, 2013 and is located in Lilongwe, Malawi. More information can be obtained from the Commission’s website http://www.comesacompetition.org/. Additionally, you can access the advert and the application form by clicking on the links; https://www.ccpc.org.zm/media/guide/COMESA-Job-Advert.pdf and https://www.ccpc.org.zm/media/guide/COMESA-Job-Application-Form.docx .

Rainford Mutabi

Beware of Directed or Forced Selling of School Uniforms/Items

2023-01-05

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is cognisant that as the new school term begins, there are schools that may resort to coercing parents/guardians to source school uniforms and other supplies strictly from their schools or exclusively selected suppliers.

The CCPC would like to remind schools that such practices are illegal and contrary to the Competition and Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) No. 24 of 2010. Such practices deprive parents/guardians of their right to choice; and distorts the competition landscape among the players in the provision of such items in Zambia.

Schools are however still at liberty to provide the required specifications of the uniforms and school supplies.

In this regard, the CCPC would like to urge parents/guardians to be proactive and report any school engaging in such practice by calling it on the toll-free line 5678, email zcomp@ccpc.org.zm or visit any of its offices located countrywide.

The CCPC wishes to assure the public that it will remain vigilant in monitoring the market and will not hesitate to impose appropriate penalties on any school which violates the provisions of the Act.

Rainford Mutabi

CCPC Fines Airtel Money and Farm Depot

2022-12-28

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) Board of Commissioners has fined Airtel Money and Farm Depot 3% of their respective annual turnovers for engaging in anti-competitive business practices. The two companies were fined during the 59^th Board of Commissioners meeting on the adjudication of cases held in Lusaka on 5^th December,2022.

According to CCPC’s investigations, it was established that Airtel Money had engaged in discriminatory conduct by charging different fees to players in the betting and gaming markets.

The Board of Commissioners found Airtel Money to be in contravention of Sections (16) (1),16 (2) (a) and 16 (2) (c) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) No. 24 of 2010, as they unfairly increased cash collection and cash disbursement fees among different sports betting companies as well as applying dissimilar conditions to equivalent transactions.

Meanwhile, the Board of Commissioners has fined Farm Depot 3% of its annual turnover for engaging in a restrictive business practice of tying the purchase of Day-Old Chicks (DOCs) to buying chicken feed. Investigations by the CCPC reveal that Farm Depot was imposing on its customers the condition of purchasing DOCs with either zamfeed, master farmer, nutri feeds or novatek chicken feed. The Board of Commissioners found Farm Depot to have contravened Sections 16 (1), 16 (2)(a) and 16(2)(d) as read together with Section 15 of the Act. Farm Depot has since been directed to desist from making the purchase of DOCs with chicken feed mandatory.

Rainford Mutabi

Expired Goods Worth Over K7,000 Seized in Monze District

2022-12-08

A team of inspectors from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and Monze Town Council (MTC) have seized goods worth K7,121.96 in a joint inspection conducted in Monze district of Southern province. The inspection covered 12 business outlets at Monze’s Central Business District (CBD) and was conducted on 2^nd December,2022.

The seized assorted beverages, foodstuffs and cosmetic products were expired and therefore not fit for human consumption. Selling or offering for sale expired or products not fit for purpose is against the Competition and Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) No. 24 of 2010 as well as the Food Safety Act No. 7 of 2019.

In light of the above, CCPC and MTC wish to warn all suppliers, retailers and distributors to cease and desist from selling unsuitable products which have exceeded their shelf life.

To ensure enhanced consumer protection in the country, CCPC in collaboration with MTC and other relevant stakeholders will continue to enforce the law in accordance with their respective mandates.