‘Chill’ on that canned pilchards

THE Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has urged consumers against consuming canned pilchards in tomato and chili sauce from South Africa which are allegedly unfit for human consumption.

According to CCPC, it had received a public warning from the COMESA Competition Commission (CCC) pursuant to Article 30 (1) (b) of the COMESA Competition Regulations warning the general public against consuming canned pilchards in tomato and chili sauce products from South Africa because they were allegedly be unfit for human consumption.

The concern came after the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) in South Africa ordered a national recall of all 400 grams pilchard products found to have been compromised during the sauce filling process and could therefore affect consumers.

“In view of the foregoing, the Commission in Zambia has urged consumers to exercise caution by ensuring that they look out for the affected pilchard products and avoid consumption for the good of their health and safety,” the Commission said.

“The Commission hereby directs all wholesalers, supermarkets, distributors, retailers, importers and traders to remove and surrender to the nearest Public Health office of every Council all affected Pilchard products which had tops bearing markings starting with ZST29 and ZSC29 respectively,” the statement further said.

The Commission in collaboration with the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA), the Ministry of Health, Public Health Departments of Local Councils and other stakeholders has instituted a countrywide exercise aimed at ensuring that all such products with the affected batch numbers that may have penetrated the Zambian market are removed from the shelves.

Some of the affected brands which the investigation identified include: Deep Catch, Mamas, Ok Housebrand, Prime Ocean, Spar, Sunny, Shoprite Ritebrand, Cape Point, Checkers Housebrand, U brand, Saldanha and West Point all manufactured by West Point Processors in Cape Town, South Africa.

THE ruling Patriotic Front has set March 2 and 6 2020 as the dates for Constituency and district elections, provincial information and publicity Secretary Kizito Chilamo has announced.

Mr Chilamo said the elections for party constituency and district elections will run simultaneously in all the districts and constituencies across the province.

“PF being a democratic party will hold its intra party elections in Muchinga Province for all districts and constituencies between 2nd and 6 March 2020," Mr Chilamo said.

Mr Chilamo said ward officials were expected to be delegates at the constituency elections and that those who will be voted to be in constituency committees will vote for the