18 Sep 2018

Department of Trade and Consumer Affairs director, Ms Seipati Olweny has encouraged both the police and business community to work together to ensure that businesses comply to set trading statutes.

She said the department found it imperative to reach out to their customers being the business community and the public to get feedback on their services as well as to give an update on developments and changes in their services.

Ms Olweny further said their ministry’s core mandate was to create a conducive business environment for the promotion of investment and development of sustainable industries and trade with the view to diversify and grow the economy as well as create wealth and employment to enable prosperity for all.

The ministry, she said, endeavoured to bring services closer to people in order to reduce the cost of doing business.

Regarding inspections, she said they were meant to ensure the safety and well-being of end users. She emphasised that the monitoring of businesses was important to ensure compliance in the interest of the business community, consumers and other stakeholders.

She said their inspection team would continue to take stringent measures against business owners commiting offences, adding that they might go to the extent of reviewing their trade licence either by amending, suspending or cancelling it.

She further said acquisition of business licences would no longer be a pre-requisite for starting business, but that it was required that details of the business be available at CIPA.

Ms Olweny said customers had a right to return goods provided they were in possession of proof of payment. ENDS