By Evans Dakwa
The Consignment Based Conformity Assessment (CBCA) programme is a vital one aimed at enhancing the protection of consumers from counterfeit goods imported into the country by making sure they meet the required country and international standards and rewarding compliant importers, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland South province has said.
In a key note address read on her behalf by the Deputy Director Administration in the Office of President and Cabinet Ndodana Dlamini, at the CBCA and consumer education awareness workshop in Beitbridge, Honourable Evelyn Ndlovu reiterated the importance of CBCA in a globalised and connected world. The workshop was organised by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
“Both these programmes we are here for seeks to enhance consumer welfare through upholding consumer rights. Wherein the issues of safety and health standards take stage. Production of quality goods and services that meets the needs of an empowered consumer goes a long way in improving the country’s image and competitiveness on both the domestic and international market,” said Honourable Ndlovu.
Honourable Ndlovu also said the CBCA programme is not all about consumers but seeks to reward competent importers too.
“CBCA seeks to reward, streamline and support players who indulge in the importation of compliant products and exercise responsible procurement practices while placing greater scrutiny on unscrupulous suppliers who intend to short change our industry and consumers at large,” she added.
The CBCA is a trade facility programme aimed at enabling the importation of quality products with very minimum end user price impact, making sure the country and consumers are shielded from sub-standard products. It is manned by four service providers in Bureau Veritas, Cotecna, EEA Company and the Standards Association of Zimbabwe all responsible for the inspection of various goods and services covered under the CBCA programme.
All four certification entities under CBCA had a chance to make presentations to the workshop highlighting the process they undertake in the inspection and certification of an imported product.
Participants mainly from the clearing and shipment sector raised concerns on some of the tenets of CBCA especially on the banning of vehicles above 10 years even from returning citizens. One of the participant branded subjection of vehicles for returning citizens to the 10 year rule as ‘ very unfair’ and rushed policy that create bigger problems in illegalities as citizens find ways to circumvent the regulations.