Bolster Trade Measures Dept capacity: Minister

INDUSTRY and Commerce minister Sekai Nzenza says it is important for the country to bolster the capacity of the Trade Measures Department to safeguard consumers from unfair trade practices.

Zimbabwe has for some time announced plans to amend the Trade Measures Act to enhance the accuracy of measurements.

Nzenza said the department should be more robust and visible to mitigate the risk of short-changing consumers.

She said this on Monday when she was speaking at the trade measures annual conference and strategic planning workshop in Masvingo.

“Our ministry has a dual role of ensuring that industry remains competitive as well as facilitating the activities of trade,” she said.

“At the centre of that is the need to ensure full functionality of the Trade Measurers Department. The department must be more robust and visible in ensuring transparency of economic transactions, health and safety, and law enforcement. It is, therefore, important that issues of consumerism and other aspects of measurements be complied with to ensure our public is protected in the area of trade, health and environment.”

She pointed out that differences in measurement will act as a technical barrier to trade, which hinders cross-border trade in goods and services.

“It is important to note that it is the responsibility of governments the world over to ensure that the use of weights and measures is done proficiently to mitigate the risk of short-changing the public such as consumers, packers, manufacturers and transporters, among other notable players.”-newsday