An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act in the Promotion and Regulation of fair Competion,Consumer Protection and Economic growth in Zambia
Date
2013-03-15
Authors
Kamfwa, Dennis
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Abstract
Owing to the shift of the Zambian economy from a national control economy to a free market economy, there has been need for the government to effectively regulate the economy in order to promote fair competition and consumer protection. In an attempt to achieve this need the government enacted the Competition and Fair Trading Act of 1994 which aimed at regulating anti-competitive practices and consumer exploitations in the market. Following a number of changes that have taken place in the Zambian economy. Parliament enacted the Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 which contains various innovative provisions that are intended to address modem economic demands in the Zambian economy.This dissertation focused on evaluating the effectiveness of the newly enacted Competition and Consumer Protection Act in the promotion and regulation of fair competition, consimier protection and economic growth in Zambia. It examined whether the Competition and Consumer Protection Act has adequately and effectively addressed prevailing social and economic demands of Zambia's economy. The study methodology was based on both primary and secondary sources which comprised interviews with the Competition and Consumer Protection personnel as well as evaluation of other academic materials.The dissertation made a comparative study of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act with the repealed Competition and Fair Trading Act of 1994. The findings of a comparative study were that the new Act was enacted with various innovative provisions that are intended to address modem economic conditions in Zambia. Through these innovations, the Competition and Consumer Protection Act has fairly addressed prevailing economic demands in the Zambian economy. The study also revealed that the new Act has included provisions that are devoted to promoting economic growth in Zambia.Further, the dissertation identified shortfalls in the Act and has therefore given recommendations in order to fill up such shortfalls. It recommends that the Act should include provisions for strengthening relations between consumers and the Commission in order to encourage consumers' increased complaint reports to the Commission. It fiirther recommends the intensifying of consumer protection in service provider enterprises, and the introduction of issuance of statutory warranties and receipts by enterprises for goods and services paid for. Furthermore, it recommends the introduction of statutory prohibition of unfair advertisement by enterprises in the Zambian market.
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Keywords
Consumer Protection--zambia , Competition,unfair--Zambia