23 Oct 2025

Some Maun residents have called on government to consider reinstating the Department of Consumer Affairs, saying its absence has left consumers vulnerable to unfair business practices and unsafe goods.

The residents voiced their concerns during a consultative meeting in Maun on Tuesday meant to solicit stakeholder input on the proposed National Food Safety Strategy, which aims to strengthen food safety management across all sectors.

They said the abolition of the Consumer Affairs Department in 2022, and subsequent transfer of its mandate to the Competition and Consumer Authority had negatively affected consumer protection particularly in Maun where the local office was closed.

Residents complained that some businesses were selling unsafe or expired food, failing to maintain hygiene standards, and displaying incorrect or inflated prices, with little enforcement taking place.

Responding to the concerns, Chief Health Officer in the Nutrition and Food Control Division under the Ministry of Health, Ms Onalenna Ntshebe, appreciated the feedback and said the proposed National Food Safety Strategy would promote stronger collaboration among government departments.

“Food safety is everyone’s business, and as such good  collaboration  between departments, food producers, and consumers is needed to help ensure food safety and a stronger food system,” she said.

Ms Ntshebe added that food safety began at the production stage, including storage, transportation, and handling at household level, noting that contaminated food posed serious health risks. She said the envisaged strategy would define clear roles and priorities for all stakeholders and ensure cultural sensitivity in its implementation.

“We want to develop a strategy that addresses challenges faced by Batswana from farm to fork,” she said. ENDS