ZMA introduces hotline for consumers
By BUSINESS REPORTER ZAMBIA has started implementing the four-year K70million (€5.6 million) project supported by the European Union (EU) to improve the country’s aviation sector.
Out of the Euros 5.6 million, Euros 1.8 million has been channelled to improve services at Zambia’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
According to CAA general manager, Gabriel Lesa, the project would end in 2021.
Mr. Lesa explained in an interview that the implementation process came about after a successful gap analysis conducted in December 2017.
“It is extremely exciting for Zambia especially that we have so many milestones achieved but now we are growing into a stronger and more resilient authority which can only mean safer and more secure aviation services,” he said.
He said with the project, Zambia’s aviation industry was much safer and more secure.
“This means more because we are going to firm up on our regulatory products and capacities, especially with the incoming of the national airline, it means we are going to see aviation to greater heights,
“First in terms of safety, we will ensure as an authority that aviation services are much safer and more secure. The project is for four years beginning 2018,” Mr. Lesa said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Lesa recently said CAA was expected to complete its National Action Plan by mid-next year aimed at promoting more activities in the industry while contributing more to the economy.
Mr. Lesa explained that the plan had already been drafted and would soon be presented to the stakeholders for review and possible adjustments.
“We have a draft action plan, we are going to share it with stakeholders to look at it and maybe review it on how best we can go. But already we know, we need to involve much more stakeholders,
“For the plan to be ready, we can project at least by mid-next year to have a complete one. It might happen earlier than that though,” he said.
Government and EU signed a grant worth Euros 5.6 million to support the aviation sector in Zambia in 2016,. By BUSINESS REPORTER ZAMBIA Metrology Agency (ZMA) will launch a hotline for consumers to report complaints against erring businesses, ZMA public relations officer, Mutale Chileshe has revealed.
In an interview,
Mr Chileshe said the move was part of the measures the Agency was implementing to promote the rights of consumers in Zambia.
“We are planning to open a hotline for consumer complaints,” he said.
He said currently, ZMA was working with other agencies to receive complaints from consumers.
Mr Chileshe explained that plans were underway to open offices in Luapula Province and other unserved areas.
“In future, we intend to open more offices to ensure that we take our services closer to the people. At the moment we have the telephone number, (0211) 222 294 which the people can use to get in touch with us.”
Mr Chileshe urged the public to utilize the services the Agency was offering.
“Consumers have rights which must be protected. And businesses must be compliant to ensure consumers enjoy their rights. As a consumer you have the right to buy an accurate product in terms of weight, in terms of quantity.
“When a consumer was aggrieved as an agency we will take steps to ensure that erring businesses are investigated and penalised if found non-compliant.,” he said
He said the agency was present in Lusaka, Copperbelt, North Western, and Northern, among other provinces.
“We have offices in seven provinces. We also work with other agencies with similar mandate. For instance, we work with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), they do receive complaints on our behalf and they relay those complaints to for take action,” said Mr Chileshe.