By HELEN ZULU –
THE Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has said some business entities in the country have failed to expand due to unfriendly business practices by others.
CCPC chief investigator Naomi Fulaza said there is a need to raise awareness on the Restrictive Business Practices (RBP) as most market players are not effectively practicing in trade activities due to lack of competition.
Ms Fulaza said awareness levels among the business communities on RBP was still low, thereby contributing to increased unfavourable business practices among the players.
She said the situation was hindering economic development in the country as most businesses were not active.
She said this in a presentation at the CCPC 2015 media training workshop on RBP held in Siavonga.
Ms Fulaza said due to negative business tendencies in the community, some business entities failed to expand and this had negatively affected the development of the sector.
“If not addressed, RBPs can be detrimental to the economy. The competition law is not about protecting individual firms, but the competitive process to achieve market outcomes that does not limit market players from effectively participating in the economy,” she said.
She said RBPs were not only a threat to the business sector, but to the country and the consumers, as there was reduced revenue generation and unfair trading practices.
Ms Fulaza noted that some business firms that had dominated certain industries took advantage of their dominance leading to exploitative practices of consumers through excessive pricing.
She said the CCPC was not concerned about dominance, but the abuse of such positions.
Ms Fulaza urged consumers not to hesitate to report such business entities and traders to the commission so that appropriate action could be taken.