Competition and Fair Trading Commission of Malawi

CFTC signs cooperation agreement with MERA

Details: Created on Tuesday, 15 April 2014 14:26

signing-ceremony The Competition and Fair Trading Commission and the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) have signed a memorandum of understanding on the enforcement of competition matters in the energy sector.

Apart from providing a framework for cooperation on any matters relating to anti-competitive behaviour, unfair trading, mergers and acquisitions, consumer protection and market analysis in the energy sector, the MOU will help improve understanding between the two organisations as well as minimize duplication of activities.

Speaking at the official signing ceremony held on 7 March 2014 in Lilongwe, CFTC Chairperson Dr Gerard Chigona said that the MOU is part of the strategic direction of the Commission aimed at fostering cooperation with sector regulators in the economy. He described the two parties as “comrades” complementing each other to bring sanity and ensure lawful conduct on the market and not competitors or rivals.

“This agreement will go a long way towards improving the working relationship between CFTC and MERA. The two parties share a common goal of enhancing the smooth operations of businesses through promotion of competition and levelling the playing field and at the same time safeguarding the welfare of consumers and citizens in general” said Chigona.

Other speakers at the ceremony were MERA Chairperson Lyton Zinyemba who was the Guest of Honour and CEOs for MERA and CFTC, Raphael Kamoto and Charlotte Wezi Malonda respectively.

The cooperation between the parties centres around the investigation and determination of cases, hearings, consultations on certain regulations, use of technical expertise; monitoring and enforcement of relevant provisions of the Acts or any other strategy deemed necessary and appropriate by the parties.

This is the second MOU that the CFTC has signed with another sector regulator. A similar MOU with the Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA) was signed in 2013. Currently, discussions are at an advanced stage with regulators in the tobacco industry and the financial sector for similar cooperation agreements.