Zambia and Tanzania have strengthened bilateral cooperation in legal metrology with the signing of a Mutual Recognition Framework Agreement (MRFA) between the Zambia Metrology Agency (ZMA) and Tanzania’s Weights and Measures Agency, targeting enhanced collaboration in the petroleum subsector.
Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Chipoka Mulenga said the agreement will strengthen cooperation, facilitate mutual recognition of measurements and test results and promote technical collaboration between the two countries.
Mr Mulenga explained that the MRFA is expected to reduce duplication, lower business costs and improve turnaround times, ultimately supporting trade facilitation and regional economic integration.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Mulenga emphasised that the agreement advances the vision of President Hakainde Hichilema and President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who have underscored the importance of regional cooperation, trade growth and shared prosperity.
He added that the agreement marks a key milestone in implementing resolutions from the Bilateral Trade Ministerial meeting held in Tunduma, Tanzania, in April 2024, which aimed to eliminate Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) and strengthen technical regulatory collaboration.
Mr Mulenga urged ZMA and the Tanzania Weights and Measures Agency to ensure timely implementation, maintain stakeholder engagement and consistently monitor progress to deliver tangible benefits.
He also reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to working with Tanzania to create a region where trade is efficient, industrialisation is accelerated and prosperity is shared.
Tanzania’s Ambassador to Zambia, Lt. Gen. Matthew Mkingule, welcomed the agreement as an important step in strengthening measurement systems and deepening regional integration.
Lt. Gen. Matthew Mkingule noted that the partnership will promote harmonised regulatory results, type approvals, calibration and verification certificates, and expand collaboration in capacity building and research.
“This agreement is not just a trade deal; it’s a strategic partnership, a trade enabler and a protection mechanism for consumers and industries in both countries,” Lt. Gen. Mkingule said.
He added that the MRFA aligns with national, regional and global aspirations and is expected to strengthen economic competitiveness, consumer confidence and the seamless movement of goods through transparent metrology systems.
Tanzania’s Ministerial Advisory Board Chair, Professor Eliza Mwakasangula, highlighted the agreement’s potential to drive economic transformation and enhance consumer protection, noting that trade depends on trust, trust built on accurate measurements.
And ZMA Executive Director Humphrey Nkobeni emphasised the benefits for industry and consumers, including reduced compliance burdens and improved credibility of measurement results.
“This agreement is a decisive step toward a stronger, harmonised and efficient regional measurement ecosystem,” Mr. Nkobeni said.
Just when the European parliament has put more sanctions on Tanzania for what they call state motivated brutality in the last elections. Do we even cross check what is going on around> No wonder the majority heads of state from Africa did not even go for that inauguration in Tanzania where we were told that we went because our imported cars pass through Tanzania, my foot!