The Government has issued Statutory Instrument (SI) number 59 of 2013 to effectively monitor the quality of electrical cables on the market, Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Emmanuel Chenda has said.
Mr Chenda said the SI will be implemented through the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS), following the provision of cable testing equipment and manpower by the Zambia Metal Fabricators (ZAMEFA) last week.
He said the implementation of the SI could not be done without the availability of test equipment and trained manpower.
Mr Chenda said this in Luanshya last Friday when he graced the official handover of the cable quality testing equipment by ZAMEFA to ZABS.
The cable testing equipment which was valued at US$ 26,547.68 was coupled with a three week training programme for two ZABS employees who have been tutored by ZAMEFA on how to handle the machinery.
“This handover was as a result of an engagement between ZAMEFA and ZABS, in 2012, following a request for Zambian standards on electrical cables to be declared compulsory, to maintain quality on the local market and enhance safety.
“While Government through the ZABS recognised the need to effectively monitor the quality of electrical cables on the market, the implementation of the SI could not be done without test equipment and trained manpower.
“However, with this in place, ZABS will now be in a position to implement SI 59 of 2013 to effectively monitor the quality and safety of imported and locally manufactured products,” he said.
Mr Chenda said implementing the SI will help minimise the dangers that may be caused by poor quality cables to infrastructure and human life.
ZAMEFA acting managing director Roseta Mwape said the company made the investment in the machinery to support Government in enforcing product quality rules and regulations.
“This investment in training and manpower will enable ZABS to test products locally and those being imported into the country, and ZAMEFA is prepared to go a step further to ensure that ZABS enforces this strategy in terms of inspection.
Ms Mwape said the manufacturing industry could not survive if bureaus of standards had no capacity and vigilance to ensure that the country is not subjected to low quality commodities.
good development. big up to ZAMEFA for the gesture. however, it would have been easier for ZBS to monitor if there is robust standardization and certification of electric wire producers, suppliers and traders. with good certification marking/s it would be easier for ZBS to curb scrupulous suppliers and traders. Certify manufacturers and traders based on the regional/international standards, then simply inspect them to ensure continued compliance. though this makes a good start still.
…long overdue….extend the same scrutiny to multiple socket adaptors….and plugs… most are safety and fire hazards….malfunctions within a week after purchase…
ZABS has been sleeping again. Shouldn’t hey have been seeking $26,000 from Ministry of Commerce? How will they censor Zamefa, they are the culprit? Better the equipment was sourced by Government so that any complaints against Zamefa’s competitors are seen to be handled without undue prejudice.
In order for Zambia to develop, we need to set and enforce standards, ZBS is the way to do that. Let all things have a standard (roads, road signs, lights, books, phones, shoes, food, drinks, EVERYTHING!).
We need to have standards and a means for enforce them for everything.
Good move.
#OneZambia
Good move
Fact- Chinese Products are Sub Standard and Zambia is flooded with it!