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Zambia’s Compulsory Standards Agency begins open market surveillance

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The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) says it will commence its 2024 national Open Market Surveillance (OMS) inspections across the nine provinces of the country to assess compliance with compulsory standards on 61 locally manufactured and imported products.

Brian Hatyoka, the ZCSA Acting Manager for Communications and Public Relations, who disclosed this in a statement issued in Lusaka on Sunday, said the inspection exercise would include a wide range of products, such as food, beverages, animal feed, chemicals, engineering products, household electrical appliances, fertilizers, and used textiles.

He noted that the surveillance would cover Eastern, Central, Lusaka, Southern, Western, Copperbelt, North-Western, Muchinga, and Northern provinces.

“During this activity, which runs from November 11 to November 25, 2024, non-compliant products will be seized, withdrawn from the market, and destroyed, in line with Section 16 4(b) of the Compulsory Standards Act No. 3 of 2017, to safeguard consumers and the environment,” Hatyoka warned.

He explained that the exercise is also aimed identifying new and unregistered suppliers offering products under compulsory standards.

Hatyoka added that during a similar exercise in 2023 where ZCSA conducted OMS inspections across six provinces, covering 22 districts and 64 localities, 2,540 trading outlets were inspected, examining 35 products, with 150 instances of non-compliance identified with the overall compliance rate increasing to 89 percent, up from 85 percent in 2022.

“ZCSA, as a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, is mandated by the Compulsory Standards Act to enforce standards for public safety, health, consumer protection, and environmental care,” Hatyoka emphasized.
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Lungu: Zambian law association calls for respect of court decisions

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The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has called on citizens to respect court decisions amid widespread criticism over the barring of ex-President Edgar Lungu from contesting the 2026 presidential election by the Constitutional Court.

The association, while reacting to the ruling, urged those affected by the court’s judgement to respect its decision.

The Constitutional Court had determined that Lungu was ineligible to contest future elections, having already served two terms as Republican President, but the ruling has generated criticism from Lungu and opposition figures who see it as a ploy by President Hakainde Hichilema to silence the opposition.

However, LAZ, in a statement issued by its President Lungisani Zulu, noted that the decision departs from the Court’s earlier rulings in cases such as Daniel Pule and Others vs Attorney General and Others, Bampi Aubrey Kapalasa and Another vs The Attorney General, and Legal Resources Foundation vs Edgar Lungu and the Attorney General.

Zulu expressed concern over the potential risks posed by inconsistent rulings from the apex court, cautioning that such fluctuations could erode public confidence in the Judiciary.

However, Zulu reiterated the importance of respecting the Court’s authority.

“Under Part 8 of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2016, judicial authority, derived from the people of Zambia, is vested in the courts, which have the final say on constitutional interpretation,” he stated.

Zulu further stressed that the Constitutional Court plays a critical role in settling constitutional disputes and underscored the need for citizens to uphold the integrity of governance institutions, including the judiciary.

“At the same time, in line with Article 118 of the Constitution, we strongly remind the Judiciary to ensure that judicial power is exercised in a just and fair manner,” he added.

The LAZ President expressed hope that consistent and fair judicial decisions would enhance accountability and maintain public confidence in the Judiciary, a cornerstone of Zambia’s democratic governance.

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Nigeria: President Tinubu’s reforms, economic policies yielding positive results— Minister

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Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has backed the reforms and economic policies embarked upon by President Bola Tinubu since coming into office in 2023, saying they are yielding significant positive results despite the hardship currently being faced by citizens.

Matawalle, who disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the Director, Information and Public Relations in Ministry of Defence, Henshaw Ogubike, said Tinubu’s policies, which include the new tax reforms and several key reforms across various sectors, were already contributing to a turnaround in the country’s economy and would, in the long run, be of benefit to all Nigerians.

The former Zamfara State governor also urged critics of the Tinubu administration, particular those from Northern Nigeria, to be positive in their narrations.

“In the light of ongoing criticism, particularly from some quarters in Northern Nigeria, I urge critics to be positive in their narratives,” he said in the statement.

“I also call on citizens to remain steadfast in their support for the President and to reject divisive narratives.

“It is crucial for Nigerians to stand united behind Mr. President, who is diligently working hard to revitalise our economy through a series of effective policies, programmes, and reforms.

“Under President Tinubu’s leadership, we are witnessing a renewed commitment to the safety and well-being of all Nigerians, and I encourage everyone to recognise the positive changes taking place,” the minister said.

Highlighting the new tax reforms, Matawalle described them as pivotal elements in the country’s economic turnaround, emphasizing that the reforms were designed to create a more equitable tax system, which would enhance revenue generation for the government while easing the financial burden on ordinary citizens and small businesses.

“By broadening the tax base and ensuring that everyone pays their fair share, President Tinubu is laying the groundwork for sustainable economic growth.

“These reforms will not only increase government revenues but also stimulate investment and job creation across various sectors,” Matawalle explained.

According to him, this will foster a more business-friendly environment, encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation, which are essential for driving economic progress.

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