Luapula Education Officer Calls for Stronger Regulation to Protect Consumers
Luapula Province Education Officer, Mrs Grace Kandeke Sinkolongo, has called for stronger regulation to curb the circulation of substandard, unsafe and expired products, warning that such goods pose serious risks to public health and consumer safety.
Mrs Sinkolongo made the remarks when officials from the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) paid a courtesy call on her during the ongoing 2026 Luapula Exposition and Investment Conference in Mansa.
She emphasised that effective regulation is essential not only for maintaining order in the marketplace but also for safeguarding the health of consumers.
“Regulation is a good cause because it creates order and prevents diseases and safety risks to consumers. We should not have a situation where traders freely supply substandard, unsafe and defective products on the market,” she said.
The visit by ZCSA and CCPC officials was aimed at briefing the Provincial Education Office on a joint school clubs initiative designed to promote competition, consumer protection and product safety awareness among pupils.
Mrs Sinkolongo welcomed the initiative and described it as timely, urging the two institutions to collaborate with teachers of Home Economics and Business Studies, who already possess relevant knowledge on consumer protection issues.
She also called for increased engagement with provincial education offices and school administrators to strengthen awareness of consumer rights and product safety.
Highlighting the health implications of unsafe products, Mrs Sinkolongo noted that some lifestyle-related illnesses could be linked to the consumption of unsafe foods and beverages.
“While exercise is important, it cannot compensate for the harm caused by consuming unsafe products. Ultimately, you are what you eat,” she said.
ZCSA Manager for Communications and Public Relations, Mr Brian Hatyoka, encouraged pupils, entrepreneurs and consumers to embrace compulsory standards, describing them as essential for ensuring product quality and competitiveness in both local and international markets.
He further urged consumers to develop the habit of reading product labels, noting that labels should clearly indicate key information such as the product name, manufacturer details, ingredients, country of origin, storage instructions and expiry date.
Meanwhile, CCPC Chief Investigator for the Northern region, Mr Joseph Mutale, reiterated the Commission’s mandate to promote fair competition and protect consumers.
He disclosed that the Commission has received numerous complaints from teachers regarding unsolicited deductions and has since intensified sensitisation programmes in schools.
Mr Mutale said the outreach initiatives aim to equip teachers with knowledge on how to safeguard themselves and report unfair trading practices.
Mrs Sinkolongo encouraged schools and pupils to visit the ZCSA and CCPC pavilions at the Expo to access information on consumer protection and product safety, and also urged the institutions to utilise radio platforms to raise awareness on the importance of reading product labels.
