Entrepreneurs urged to adhere to existing laws

By Lasteck Alfred, The Citizen Correspondent

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

A Dar es Salaam-based Legal Chamber - Bwana Attorneys - has called upon entrepreneurs all over the country, who conduct their businesses contrary to the Fair Competition Act, 2003, to stop before the law takes its course.

Speaking to journalists, the Bwana Attorneys managing director, Mr James Bwana, said the call had come as a response to his client Jaluma General Supplies Limited that had been facing threats from a Kenyan company over different commodity prices.

Referring to sections 15(1) and 18 of the Fair Competition Act, 2003 he said: “No one shall in trade, engage in conduct, which misleads, deceives or likely to mislead or deceive.”

He explained that it was illegal for any person to engage in a conduct that was likely to mislead members of the public as to the nature, the manufacturing process, characteristics, and suitability for the purpose or quantity of any goods. He stressed that the violation of the law would lead an entrepreneur or company to be sent to the Fair Competition Commission (FCC) or the Chamber of Commerce for further action.

“Tanzanians should be aware that their country is a member of the South African Development Community (Sadc) and, therefore, goods imported from the Sadc region are free from importation tax thus they are likely to be cheaper compared to commodities imported from other regions. Therefore, it is the right of any Tanzanian to benefit from tax relief by purchasing quality and authentic products at cheaper prices,” he noted.

“I urge Tanzanians to trust products with low prices because the low price does not mean the products are fake,” he added. Mr Bwana said most Tanzanians preferred high priced products because they believed they were of good quality, while the pricing of any commodity was determined by a number of factors.

He also urged Tanzanians to trust imported goods because they followed all necessary procedures to be in the market.

Commodity suppliers normally inform the respective authorities about the goods to be imported and provide samples to the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA).

Source: The Citizen (20/09/2012): http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/news/4-national-news/25890-entrepreneurs-urged-to-adhere-to-existing-laws