The regulation of market dominance in Zambia

Abstract

In a free market economy, certain enterprises emerge stronger than others. With this strength comes the ability to independently influence the forces of competition and prices of products and services. Such strength must therefore be regulated, in order to ensure that it is not abused to the detriment of not only the other players in the market, but also the consumers.This essay therefore considers the regulation of market dominance in Zambia. It discusses the concept of market dominance, and the indicators used to determine it. It also considers the sort of behaviour considered to amount to an abuse of market dominance. The paper considers the role of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act No. 24 of 2010 (the "Act") in the regulation of market dominance. It also focuses on the role performed by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (the "Commission") in implementing the provisions of the Act.With the help of documented cases, interviews, and raw data, the essay analyses the position of the Commission in relation to the regulatory duty placed upon it. The essay provides a brief comparison of the regulation of market dominance in Zambia, with that of the United Kingdom, to provide more insight on the phenomenon. Finally, based on an analysis of its salient points of discussion, the essay draws profound conclusions and recommendations on how this regulatory system can be improved and concludes with a synopsis of the aforementioned.