Cabinet Okays Competition Act Amendments To Reinforce Fight Against Cartels

Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa said that the Cabinet has approved principles of the amendments to the Competition Act to align the law with the Constitution. The principles are believed to be essential in strengthening the fight against cartels and monopolies that have been accused of triggering the wave of price increases of commodities.

Speaking after the 19th Cabinet decision matrix, Minister Mutsvangwa said:

The principles seek to align the Act with the Zimbabwe Constitution. Key provisions of the principles include the following; empowering the Commission to levy administrative penalties for companies that violate the competition laws; introduction of a corporate leniency programme so as to facilitate the successful investigation of cartels; strengthening the powers of the Commission in obtaining evidence during investigations through providing for the procedure to be followed as well as the obligations to be imposed on its investigating officers; empowering the Commission to employ certain persons to assist with the entry and search where such services are required; providing for co-operation and co-existence of the Commission with sector regulators and other competition authorities; and empowering the Commission to undertake review of activities and legal frameworks of trade and professional associations to ensure that they are consistent with competition legal framework.

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