By: Mayamiko Phiri

The competition and fair trading commission (CFTC) has punished eight companies with fines totaling K6.5 million for unfair trading practices.

CFTC acting Executive Director Apoche Itimu disclosed this during a press briefing held in Blantyre on Wednesday, April 27, 2020.

The culprits that has been punished are chipiku plus, people’s trading centre,old mutual pension services limited, suncrest creameries limited, king steel limited, central poutlry limited and vanguard life assurance.

The unfair trading practices includes supply of products likely to cause injury or harm to consumers, misleading conduct and insufficient labelling and misuse of market power.

She further stated that her commission received 15 complaints against some schools and that 13 schools were cleared for any wrong doing.
However, 2 schools namely Athens private and Hope Christian were found liable of unconscionable conduct.

Contrary to section 43(1)(g) of the CFTC and commission issued orders for the said schools to cease and desist from engaging in such conducts.

On the other note Itimu disclosed that her commission also received complaints against some manufacturer of cooking oil for unreasonable price hike of their products and the investigations are under way and her commission will come out with determination on the matter in the near future.