Balaka hosts Malawi consumer day activity
The Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) on Tuesday hosted activities to mark World Consumer eights Day at Balaka Stadium in Balaka.
The commemoration was held under the theme: “Consumer Justice Now” and this year’s event was spiced up with various displays, dances, poems, plays and a football match.
Among other things, CFTC engaged consumers on the issue of withholding maize supplies with the intention of causing a price increase, dumping of substandard products on the market under the disguise of promotional sales.
Malonda said it is also an unfair trading practice for manufacturers and retailers to display disclaimers where consumers are denied a warranty or the right to return goods when not happy with a product.
“There is widespread violation of consumers’ rights in Malawi and consumers should not remain silent but speak out,” said Malonda.
Other acts of consumer abuse in Malawi, said Malonda, include dumping of substandard products not fit for human consumption on the market.
Balaka Traders chairman, Stain Phekani, said consumers should know their rights and speak out whenever somebody tramples upon those rights while district commissioner, Roderick Mateauma, said many consumers are forced to buy goods and products due to vendors’ aggressive behavior.
“My office has a trade officer whose other role is that of inspection and complaints handling and all those consumers whose rights have been violated should bring those complaints for redress,” Mateauma said.
