According to the ESCC Advocacy & Communications Manager, Mancoba Mabuza, this programme aims at imparting knowledge to consumers about their rights enshrined in the law, including the Fair Trading Act of 2001 and the Competition Act of 2007. He says it is important for consumers to know their rights and that the ESCC believes in a strong economy and well-informed consumers who make the right choices. Mabuza added that this was within the mandate of the ESCC, to ensure fair competition in the Eswatini economy as well as to protect the rights of consumers.

“This is a collaborative initiative executed in partnership with our partners, the OFS, and we are joined by the CBE and ESERA, among others. The programme was launched by the Honourable Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development, together with the Honourable Minister for Commerce, Industry and Trade. The Tinkhundla engagements are also crucial not just in empowering communities with information, but also in promoting communication and collaboration between the regulatory institutions and the communities we serve, with the aim of enlightening consumers about their rights,” Mabuza said.

In the past few weeks, the ESCC and OFS-led teams have engaged with consumers in the different Tinkhundla and led exciting conversations about consumer issues. Mabuza says these sessions were lively and engaging, as people were eager to raise questions and concerns and to discuss the country’s consumer protection laws.

“Our team explained in detail and in simpler terms the protections that consumers have under the Competition Act of 2007 and the Fair Trading Act, 2001. We discussed a wide range of topics, including unfair business practices, pricing, and how very important it is to keep their receipts as consumers, in case they want to lodge a complaint. The main message has been about the rights of consumers to be treated fairly, to get good quality products and services, and the clear and easy way to lodge complaints with our institutions as a consumer,” Mabuza said.

He further emphasized the importance of partnerships and collaborations since all these organizations have a consumer protection element in their mandates. Mabuza gave examples, stating that the OFS has been helpful in giving key information about consumer rights and how to solve problems in the financial sector.

“At the same time, the Central Bank of Eswatini shared vital information on lodging complaints in the banking sector. They also covered various aspects such as loan conditions and the importance of protection against financial fraud. This collaboration makes our work much easier and simpler,” he said.

Mabuza thanked everyone who supported these engagements, including the government, Members of Parliament, and other leaders such as Tindvuna and Bucopho, as well as the participants who have taken leadership and ensured the smooth running of the engagement sessions.