The Zambia Metrology Agency – ZMA is set to launch a pilot project aimed at promoting competitiveness and fairness of trade through the use of standardized measures and empowering traders with skills and harmonization of trade practice in the markets.
Speaking during the business meeting with stakeholders held at ZMA offices in Lusaka attended by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, ZMA director of Legal Metrology Humphrey Nkobeni said that the Agency has acknowledged the common use of a traditional instrument “MEDA” which has for a long time been existence especially in public markets hence the need to actively seek ways to ensure that the measuring instrument promotes efficiency and effectiveness in the operations of traders.
Nkobeni said the project will ensure that there’s increase of knowledge among traders to realize reasonable profits using correct measurements, identify appropriate measurement trade methods for certain products in public markets and identify other appropriate trading methods such as prepackaging and use of weighing instruments.
“It pleases me to say that as an agency, a lot of research has been done and we are making headway to help meet the demands from both consumers and traders in this ever-evolving world, hence we are here to present the information we have gathered about the Meda and most importantly hear your comments and concerns about this project we plan to launch,” he said
And ZMA senior metrologist Mwewa Kapotwe also added that the project to be launched at a latter date is set to run for a period of 5 months in 5 provinces across the country which include Lusaka, Copperbelt, Southern, Northern and Eastern provinces.
She said once the project is implemented, they will be consistency among traders country-wide as opposed to some Meda’s on the market which have no consistency in the material and capacity measures being used.
Speaking at the same event Mtendere market board secretary Pathias Munsaka says the move is welcome as standardizing the meda will create fair competition and trade among traders and boost the economic cycle of the markets and the country at large.
He has further urged ZMA to roll out sanitizations programmes for the standardized meda’s to avoid unscrupulous people from taking advantage of this new project.
