Journalists Urged to Simplify Stories on Product Safety
The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has urged journalists to simplify reporting on product safety and quality to help protect consumers from unsafe and substandard products on the market.
ZCSA Executive Director Gerald Chizinga said clear and accessible reporting enables consumers to make informed decisions about products they use daily, despite the technical nature of compulsory standards.
Mr Chizinga was speaking in Lusaka on Saturday during the official opening of the third ZCSA Media Awards Adjudication Committee meeting, which is tasked with evaluating entries and selecting winners of the awards.
“Product safety and quality may appear technical, but it directly affects our daily lives,” he said. “Products such as food, beverages, solar products and household electrical appliances can pose serious risks to consumers and the environment if they are not properly regulated.”
He stressed the importance of widespread media coverage on compulsory standards, noting that ZCSA has been training journalists, including those working in local languages, to strengthen public understanding of product safety and quality.
The training targets journalists from print, radio, television and digital platforms, with the aim of improving accurate and impactful dissemination of information nationwide.
Mr Chizinga also welcomed the increase in submissions to the Media Awards, describing it as evidence of growing engagement between ZCSA and the media. He urged the Agency’s Corporate Communications Unit to continue innovating and strengthening stakeholder trust.
Meanwhile, Henry Kabwe, Chairperson of the 3rd ZCSA Media Awards Adjudication Committee, called on journalists to uphold objectivity and depth in their reporting.
Mr Kabwe, who is also a trustee at MISA Zambia and Executive Director of the Media Network on Child Rights and Development (MNCRD), encouraged journalists to conduct thorough research and move beyond routine “he said, she said” reporting.
“Stories that educate and create impact are far more valuable to society than general reporting of scheduled events,” he said.
Journalists Urged to Simplify Stories on Product Safety
ZCSA received 47 entries by the close of submissions on 26 December 2025, the highest number since the Media Awards were introduced in 2023. This compares with 28 entries in 2024 and 44 entries in 2023.
Analysis of the submissions showed that used undergarments received the most coverage, followed by solar products. Packaged drinking water, electrical products and potable spirits ranked third, while fertiliser ranked fourth. Products receiving the least coverage included cooking oil, tomato products, condoms, hair creams and tyres.
ZCSA, a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, was established under the Compulsory Standards Act to ensure compliance with compulsory standards aimed at safeguarding public health, consumer rights and environmental protection.
The Agency currently regulates 102 locally manufactured and imported products, including food and beverages, solar and chemical products, construction and packaging materials, household electrical appliances, petroleum products, used motor vehicles, fertiliser, fuel and used textiles.
