“ZCSA Partners with Journalists”
Chizinga says this collaborative efforts will Strengthen Product Safety and Consumer Rights
By Francis Maingaila
Lusaka, Zambia24 (12-04- 2024) – The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has underscored the importance for journalists to familiarize themselves with compulsory standards to enhance product safety and safeguard consumers.
Brian Hatyoka, Head of Communications at ZCSA, said in a press statement that the journalists play pivotal role in disseminating information about compulsory standards.
Gerald Chizinga, the Executive Director, hailed the media workshop as a milestone in the collaboration between ZCSA and local journalists, aimed at championing product safety, consumer protection, and informed decision-making nationwide.
He emphasized the media’s critical role in advocating for product safety and outlined the workshop’s objective of enhancing journalists’ understanding of ZCSA’s mandate, especially concerning compulsory standards.
Chizinga encouraged journalists to leverage ZCSA’s resources for information verification and further education.
Moreover, he announced the call for entries for the 2024 Media Awards, inviting journalists to submit articles aligning with ZCSA’s mandate and grammatical standards.
He highlighted ZCSA’s active engagement with journalists through events and exhibitions to provide firsthand information on product safety.
To ensure continuous communication, Chizinga mentioned that ZCSA’s Communications Unit would keep journalists updated on upcoming events and initiatives through a dedicated WhatsApp group.
He reaffirmed the collective commitment to promoting product safety, empowering consumers, and ensuring compliance with compulsory standards.
Chizinga reiterated ZCSA’s dedication to public education and awareness through media collaboration, emphasizing the agency’s mandate to ensure product compliance with specific criteria outlined in the Compulsory Standards Act No.3 of 2017 before entering the market.
The workshop aimed to deepen journalists’ understanding of compulsory standards implementation and raise awareness of product safety, particularly in local languages.
Chizinga also cautioned against the severe consequences of non-compliance with compulsory standards.
Herbert Macha, a media trainer at the workshop, urged journalists to delve into the dangers posed by non-compliant products, emphasizing the crucial role of investigative journalism in ensuring consumer safety.
