Buyers of different products measured in
kilograms have expressed a grave concern over the long running weights of
products which they purchase from retail shops saying that, is less in
comparison with the quantity required. A
random survey carried by this paper in Dar es Salaam’s city localities has
discovered that, there are some shopkeepers who are notorious of scaling
cheats and swindling thus using rigged weighing scales which have been tampered
to cheat their potential customers. Speaking in an exclusive interview with
this paper early this week in Dar es Salaam, some dismayed potential buyers
have expressed their disappointment over the matter, saying that are receiving
a kilogram of a product they purchase that is not complete which looks like a
three quarter kilo. Confirming
to this writer, a desperate customer Hamisi Habibu, a resident of Kipunguni ‘B’
in Gongo La Mboto area within Ilala municipal council said that, one day he
bought a kilogram of meat at a local butcher near his home and found it more
lighter than what he expected. He
further noted that, he took the sample of the already measured meat to another measuring
scale used by one shopkeeper and found it had fallen short of weight. Likewise,
a business woman who identified himself by one name Asha said that, she used to
buy 5 kilograms of home baking flour from which she used to prepare 50 pieces
of the so-called ‘Chapati’ for her Mama Lishe business entity, but gradually
she discovered there is a constant decrease on the weight and is now producing 42
pieces of chapati.
During the interview, most buyers have
strongly pointed an accusing finger to unscrupulous traders and other
shopkeepers for being untrustworthy and called for the immediate assistance
from the authorities concerned. Contacted for comments early this week in Dar
es Salaam, WMA’s Public Relations Officer Rehema Rashid said that, her agency continues
to do regular checkups to identify illegal traders who have been cheating their
customer although there are some claims and irregularities raised by potential
buyers. Elaborating about the exercise she said that, “during the first quarter
of the 2014/15 financial year about 160 traders have been arrested and fined in
different parts of Dar es Salaam city suburbs after having been found guilty in
connection with violation of the use of weights and measures. She said adding
that, their arrest is in accordance to section 46 (1) of Weights and Measures
Act of 2002 that aimed to protect consumers in fair and just trade from
exploitation. Hardly three months ago, the Agency’s Chief Executive Officer,
Magdalena Chuwa was quoted by the media and admitted that, the agency has been
facing a serious shortage of staff to move countrywide on timely basis to
supervise measuring scale instruments. In view of this, she asked the consumers
must help double check the accuracy of scales and other measuring gadgets when
purchasing products at different stores and business centres. Speaking in a
telephone interview early this week, a trade expert from the Ministry of Trade
and Industry who preferred anonymity said that, “accurate measures and weights
also simplify trade and encourage investment as people prefer to invest in an
up-to standard economy.” According to him, it is an obligation that, fairness
in trade should be treated as it is the major concept under which investors in
trade could feel more secure within their business transactions which in today’s
global economy is competitive. The WMA is an agency working under the umbrella
of the ministry of Trade and Industry which is charged with consumer protection
through ensuring measuring systems result in fair trade transactions. The
agency is mandated to provide protection to consumers in relation to legal
metrological control which includes legal control of measuring instruments.
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