Accurate Measures, Stronger Trade

ZMA’s performance supports fair trade and regional competitiveness

By Francis Maingaila

Lusaka, Zambia24 (Aug. 21, 2025) – The Zambia Metrology Agency (ZMA) has exceeded its mid-year performance targets, reinforcing its role in ensuring accurate measurements, protecting consumers, and promoting industrial efficiency across Zambia.

At a media briefing in Lusaka, ZMA Director Humphrey Nkobeni highlighted the agency’s achievements in the first half of 2025, emphasizing the critical role of precise measurements in trade, agriculture, and industry. 

He said the briefing provided a “valuable opportunity to reflect on our progress, highlight our achievements, and reaffirm our commitment to excellence in regulating measurements and providing technical support to all sectors of the economy.”

Nkobeni revealed that ZMA had type-approved seven new models of measuring instruments for the Zambian market. 

He explained that type approval “is the formal process through which ZMA evaluates and certifies measuring instruments to ensure they meet legal, technical, and performance standards before they are placed on the market or used in trade.”

Between January and June 2025, the agency calibrated 2,213 instruments and standards, surpassing the target of 2,073, representing 107% achievement. 

ZMA also carried out 38,735 statutory verifications against a target of 37,728, achieving 103% performance. 

Nkobeni said this above-target performance demonstrated the agency’s dedication to promoting accuracy, reliability, and compliance across sectors including manufacturing, mining, energy, agriculture, health, and trade.

The agency inspected 444,908 locally produced prepackaged commodities, achieving an overall compliance of 95.2%, exceeding the 92% target. 

Nkobeni listed key products inspected, including mealie meal (97.3% compliance), flour (99.3%), roofing sheets (100%), cement (89.8%), building/construction blocks (100%), putty (99%), tile fix (100%), animal feed (98%), agricultural fertilizer (100%), and liquefied petroleum gas (100%).

Imported prepackaged commodities also recorded strong performance, with 1,689,845 products inspected and a 98% compliance rate, above the 92% target. 

Nkobeni confirmed that 15 public complaints on petroleum and construction commodities had been received, all of which were fully investigated and resolved.

He said the agency had continued the annual second-round statutory verification of instruments in the petroleum sub-sector, which includes fuel pumps at retail service stations, bulk flow meters at oil marketing companies and government facilities, and master meters. 

“This exercise, which commenced in July 2025, is on track to be completed by the end of the week. Our target is to verify 8,500 fuel pumps nationwide, and as of July, we had verified 6,981 pumps,” he said.

Nkobeni noted that following the bumper 2024/25 harvest, ZMA acted swiftly to protect both farmers and buyers from unfair measurements. 

All Food Reserve Agency (FRA) scales were verified, and inspections were extended to all grain buyers and roadside sellers across the country. 

Inspectors had already visited districts in Southern, Copperbelt, Central, and Eastern provinces and were currently active in Muchinga, Luapula, and Northern provinces. 

He expressed gratitude to all participants in the grain marketing season, including FRA, farmers, private buyers, and provincial, district, and traditional leadership, for their cooperation.

Nkobeni highlighted ZMA’s preparations to support the 2025/26 Farmers Input Support Programme (FISP). 

He said the agency was working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI), Seed Control and Certification Institute (SCCI), Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), and Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) to inspect fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides.

 “These inspections, scheduled to commence at the end of August, will ensure that all inputs meet declared specifications and quality standards. Our goal is clear: to safeguard farmers, strengthen confidence in agricultural inputs, and enhance productivity through accurate and reliable measurements,” he said.

On the regional stage, Nkobeni announced that ZMA had been elected Vice President of the Intra-Africa Metrology System (AFRIMETS) and appointed Chairperson of its Legal Metrology Technical Committee. 

“This dual recognition is not only a personal honour but a national achievement. It positions Zambia at the forefront of regional decision-making in metrology and allows us to contribute meaningfully to harmonising measurement standards across Africa,” he said.

Nkobeni explained that AFRIMETS, established in 2007 under the African Union, coordinates and harmonizes metrology across the continent. 

He said Zambia’s leadership in the organization reflects confidence in its technical expertise and regulatory systems and provides opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and influence in trade, consumer protection, and safety across Africa.

He said the first half of 2025 had been marked by strong performance, impactful collaboration, and historic milestones for ZMA. 

Nkobeni said the agency would focus on expanding verification coverage in underserved areas, enhancing public and industry engagement, strengthening partnerships with other regulators, and investing in laboratory infrastructure and regional collaboration.

Nkobeni expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, ZMA’s board and staff, the private sector, the media, and regional and international collaborators.

 “Let us continue to uphold the highest standards of accuracy, reliability, and integrity in measurement—because precise data and measurements are the foundation of sustainable development,” he said.