The Zambia Metrology Agency (ZMA) has with immediate effect suspended the supply and sale of potable water by some companies due to lack of compliance.
ZMA Executive Director Himba Cheelo said the suspension is for the period of 60 days and these directives however, shall not affect smaller denominations of bottled potable water.
Ms. Cheelo told ZANIS in a statement today, that the manufacturers and retailers of some bottled potable water have been given 48 hours to withdraw the above stated denominations from the Zambian Market.
“We have suspended the packaging, supply and sale of the 18.9, 20 and 21.8 Litres of bottled on the Zambian Market. The affected suppliers have been given 48 hours to withdraw the said water from the market,” she stated.
She said that this follows recent reports regarding deceitful practices by some companies engaged in the production and packaging of bottled potable water in the country.
Ms. Cheelo disclosed that the above measures have been undertaken to protect consumers from fraudulent trade practices and associated health risks and to curb fraudulent activities in the water bottling sub-sector.
She added that this is also done to protect genuine manufacturers and suppliers of potable water products, from unscrupulous activities.
Ms. Cheelo stated that the Agency undertook compliance inspections at production plants and retail outlets between 11th and 16th April 2018 in Choma, Chipata, Ndola, Kitwe and Lusaka that revealed serious variances in the packaging and labelling of bottled potable water.
Ms. Cheelo further said that during this suspension period, the agency shall work with other regulatory Institutions, manufacturers and retailers to put in place long lasting measures to curtail all unscrupulous activities for the benefit of the consumers and the industry.
Sata was right about the Chinese when in opposition. Whatever happened after he became president. The Chinese are a scum of earth who should be allowed in the country under very strict regulations.
This is just the beginning china man will start making biscuits from matuviii…watch
My comments are being censored…i think the Chinese have bought LT
This is just the beginning..China man will start making biscuits from matuvii’$#$
WHO ARE THE “SOME COMPANIES”? List the companies names for public security. This is public information. LUSAKA TIMES should ask for this information because it is their responsibility to alert the public. Do not publish until you have all the data, facts and associated Arithmetic. We now have a very well informed and educated public. You need to match your news to their intelligence.
This is why when I am in Zambia I refill water from the house from water bought from a Supermarket…why can’t you fine these companies…name them as well.
Ahahahaha…ba JayJay…Ati “when I am in Zambia…” Kkkkk…where are you from??
LT also likes saying ” a named company or named newspaper” without reporting the name of the entity. If an entity has been named, why not provide the name in the report instead of the meaningless “named company” phrase?
ZMA should also compel all companies to seal their small bottles of water.
A big hand to the Chinese !
Very innovative for sure…while we sleep as usual.. Very soon we will have a Chinese as President of this coz we are very carefree, careless and stupid, yet we don’t know it! Ine bati cimanibaba mweh! We need to Magufulify State House. That’s when we will see meaningful progress in this country.
Why should the companies that have been complying with rules and regulations be inconvenienced
Read the story before commenting.
My brother there is usually nothing to read in stories that are published by Zambian reporters. Its a waste of time trying to read them
WHAT OTHER EVIL THINGS THEY ARE ENGAGED IN THAT WE HAVE NOT UNEARTHED YET, AND HAVE DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE HEALTH OF THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE. SOME OF THESE EFFECTS MAY NOT HARM US NOW BUT WILL BE PASSED ON TO OUR UNBORN CHILDREN. WHAT ABOUT THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CANCERS AND OTHER INCURABLE DISEASES.
ZMA, ZAMBIA BUREAU OF STANDARDS AND OTHER RELEVANT AUTHORITIES SHOULD STOP BEING REACTIONARY AND CORRUPT…..INSTEAD BE PROACTIVE, FOLLOW UP, SNIFF AND INVESTIGATE WHAT THESE CHARACTERS ARE DOING. CAN WE ALSO LOOK AT PERHAPS LACUNAS IN OUR LAWS, WHICH THESE CHARACTER ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF..”JUST PAYING A LITTLE KWACHAS AND DEPORTING THEM IS NOT ENOUGH. THROW THE CULPRITS IN OUR JAILS AND LET THEM ROT THERE…THAT WILL DETER OTHERS.
LOOK AT THE MEAT, SAUSAGES, HONEY, CHICKENS ETC…
WITHDRAWING WATER FROM THE MARKET IS NOT THE SOLUTION…..ITS MEANS IN THIS COUNTRY ANYONE CAN TAKE ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING ON OUR MARKETS AND SELL THEM…WE ALREADY HAVE INSTITUTIONS IN PLACE TO DEAL WITH SUCH ISSUES…BUT WHERE ARE THEY? SLEEPING AS USUAL AND DRAWING HUGE ALLOWANCES AND SALARIES.
Please Govt we are now tired of these issues, why not just specify the company’s rather than making it look as if all the company’s are doing the same? Boreholes and now dispenser water, do you really know the repercussions?
Cry for mother Zambia, anyone can just work up and make pronouncements without even thinking just to make a name that they are working.
Please Govt make this matter to be reversed before the workers are fired until after 2 months when they will be recalled.
Just intensify your inspections zema.
Sata campaigned on the premise the he would get rid of the chocholi once elected president. He made 360 degree turn once he was in power. After getting millions from chocholi Sata indicated that,”whoever wanted to chase the Chinese would have to kill him first.” Zambians voters are the suckers, Sata was always an arrogant man when he was in power or charge
HH will not do anything either as he has surrounded himself with the same old useless fortune seekers. If you think that HH will put nshima on your table, then you have another thing coming. Continue voting …suckers
You know the companies,you know what you saw on your inspections, deal with them but dont inconvenience genuine producers!
WHAT ARE THE SO-CALLED SECURITY WINGS DOING – ZERO !!! THEY ARE THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE FOR ZAMBIA…Jesus wept…
This is what happens when you have so many regulatory institutions. Where is zabs, cpc,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, pa Zambia paba ubupuba
You mean, only Chinese can develop our Mighty Zambia. We have very intelligent graduates here. Given all chances they will do wonders. Even drinking water we have to call Chinese.
Sylvester Stallon (Rambo) would have said, ”You know them, you know who they are…. find them or I will find you…..”
Ba mambala na menshe balepanga ni gonga??? Amenshe???? ..As mwene mushe would say “bloody useless baskets”
BA ZMA JUST SAY CHINESE COMPANIES NOT THE WAY YOU ARE PUTTING IT [SOME COMPANIES]
PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW WHO IS DOING THAT.
THE CHINESE
ZMA, where have you been all along? In the first place, who gave these so called companies the operating licenses and who if any does incognito and random checks on these many fake companies? People want jobs but when they are given, they do absolutely nothing on their jobs but keep blaming Government. Does President Lungu work for ZMA or any regulatory institutions for that matter? Lets be serious guys.
Again, we see too many Tongas heading very sensitive organisations, why?
Zambia butala bwacipuba!! We are stupid. Let the Chinese and all the other foreigners continue to exploit us. We deserve to drink and eat rubbish because our priorities are definitely upside down, no doubt about that. Fulwe ngamulefwaya but let’s call a spade a spade!!
The Chinese are very useless, the electrical appliances they make are useless they don’t last long. Look at the roads they make, 2-5 months the roads have pot-walls. Now it’s fake water and ba Zma don’t want to mention them instead they choose to kill a number of pipo with different kinds of cancers, i bet even Indeni will soon av the Chinese as the equity partner coz it seems our government is fond of the Chinese. Ati they are creating more jobs for the Zambian pipo and yet they use the same pipo like slaves, go to Dollars Hill Mall in Ndola the workers there work their bones out there is no saturday or sunday. If you want to kip your job you have to stop going to church, how i wish ba late Sata was still alive to see these Chinese turn this country into a mess!!!!!!!