Weighing in on Fairness

ZMA Launches National Product Integrity Drive

By Francis Maingaila 

Lusaka, Zambia24 - (24-06-2025) - The Zambia Metrology Agency (ZMA) has launched a new certification system for prepackaged commodities aimed at stamping out underweight products on the market and restoring consumer confidence in trade measurements.

Announcing the development during a stakeholder workshop held in Lusaka, ZMA Executive Director Bishop Humphrey Nkobeni said the new system is a bold step toward ensuring fairness, accuracy, and transparency in how goods are measured, labelled, and sold across the country.

“Our goal is to protect consumers while supporting local producers to become globally competitive,” Nkobeni said. “We are building a system that advances trust and quality assurance in every corner of the supply chain.”

The move follows multiple inspections which revealed widespread issues in local markets, including products being sold below stated weights, tampered packaging, and unsafe reused containers — some of which had previously stored chemicals.

“We found containers disguised with paint and residues that posed safety risks,” Nkobeni revealed. “This certification system introduces clear standards, tamper-proof packaging, and traceable labelling to eliminate such risks.”

To test the system’s viability, ZMA is running pilot programs in five strategic markets: Soweto Market in Lusaka, and others in Livingstone, Chipata, Choma, and Chambeshi. These markets will serve as benchmarks for enforcing compliance and ensuring consumer protection at both wholesale and retail levels.

“Consumers deserve to know that the measurements on what they buy are accurate,” Nkobeni said. “This initiative ensures that even small-scale traders adhere to the same standards applied globally.”

Rather than relying on surprise inspections, the new approach involves structured collaboration with manufacturers. 

ZMA will train technical teams within production facilities to properly calibrate weighing instruments, maintain packaging accuracy, and comply with internationally recognized units of measurement.

“A kilogram in Zambia must mean exactly what it means in any part of the world,” Nkobeni stressed. “For our copper and agricultural exports to be trusted, our standards must align with international expectations.”

He added that ZMA is embracing new technologies such as artificial intelligence to future-proof the country’s metrology systems. “We view innovations not as challenges, but as opportunities to modernize and remain ahead of the curve,” he said.

Addressing concerns about the prevalence of underweight products on the shelves, Nkobeni said ZMA conducts quarterly compliance audits, and the majority of products inspected currently meet or exceed the minimum legal measurement thresholds.

“This system is about building a culture of measurement integrity across all sectors,” he said. 

“We are not just enforcing rules — we are raising the standard of trade in Zambia.”

The Zambia Metrology Agency, operating under the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, is responsible for maintaining and enforcing the national measurement system to safeguard both consumers and businesses.