Inside Zambia’s Fair Trade Fight

How the ZMA is championing consumer protection, accurate measurements, and national development

By Francis Maingaila ♥️

Lusaka, Zambia24 — 23-11-2025) —

The Zambia Metrology Agency’s intensified crackdown on under-dispensing fuel pumps, deceptive packaging, and faulty measuring instruments has become one of the most celebrated and transformative national reforms—quietly safeguarding millions of consumers and ensuring that every kwacha exchanged in the marketplace reflects true value.

For years, the invisible theft of miscalibrated scales, short litres of fuel, and underweight packaged goods silently drained households, undermined traders, and chipped away at public trust.

What many dismissed as “just numbers” was, in reality, a slow and harmful erosion of fairness.

Today, ZMA’s resurgence is reshaping that reality, turning a once-technical institution into a champion of accountability, dignity, and economic justice.

Across the country—whether in bustling markets, petrol stations, hospitals, factories, farms, or homes—ZMA’s work now forms part of the unseen backbone of national commerce. 

Its mandate under the Metrology Act No. 6 of 2017 places it at the centre of national development, responsible for legal metrology, verifying instruments used in trade, calibrating industrial equipment, approving new measuring device models, and ensuring that all measurements are safe, accurate, and legally compliant.

Its influence rarely makes headlines, yet it is deeply felt in ordinary moments: a mother buying mealie meal, a trucker refueling late at night, a farmer pricing harvest moisture, or a shopkeeper weighing tomatoes for loyal customers.

For the agency, this quiet presence is intentional. True measurement integrity, they say, should be so reliable that people barely notice it.

Shoppers in Lusaka have already felt the change. Market vendors recall the day their scales suddenly “behaved,” while motorists speak of relief when fuel pumps were recalibrated.

“You can feel the difference when someone is finally watching out for you,” said Chola Phiri, a mother of three in Kabwata speaking in an exclusive interview.

“For us, a correct measure is not mathematics—it’s survival.”

This growing confidence is the result of a disciplined internal overhaul—modern equipment, faster enforcement, clearer communication, and new partnerships.

ZMA teams now travel before sunrise to remote districts, verifying fuel pumps, testing moisture meters, checking industrial instruments, and certifying shop scales.

“You feel order returning,” said Serenje shopkeeper Gilbert Mulenga in another exclusive interview.

“When ZMA certifies your scale, customers trust you again.”

At the heart of the agency’s renewal is Executive Director Humphrey Nkobeni. His leadership has not only improved technical capacity but redefined ZMA’s identity and purpose.

“A measurement has a human face,” he said in an exclusive interview, his tone calm but firm.

“Behind every litre of fuel, every kilogram of mealie meal, and every medicine dosage is a life depending on accuracy. When we get it right, families are protected. When we get it wrong, people suffer.”

He remembers walking into an agency constrained by obsolete tools and too few staff.

“We had to rebuild from the foundation—skills, systems, tools, and integrity. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was essential,” he explained.

Under his watch, modern laboratories were introduced, verification equipment upgraded, calibration services broadened, and enforcement teams restructured to respond swiftly nationwide.

“A country that measures accurately is a country that trades confidently. Confidence is the currency of development,” he emphasized.

The impact is visible across communities. Farmers in Katete say verified moisture meters restored fairness in crop pricing. Solwezi transporters note reduced fuel losses thanks to consistent pump inspections.

“We used to feel like we were fighting an invisible enemy,” said truck driver Gerald Zulu in yet another exclusive interview.

“Now you know someone is watching the pumps.”

A Kitwe trader, Mercy Zulu, shared how improper measurements once drained her livelihood:

“Before ZMA came on board, I didn’t know my customers were being shortchanged, and I was too. I lost money and trust," said Zulu.

“After inspections, my scales were certified. Now customers believe in me again, and my sales have gone up. It feels like a weight lifted from my business and my family.”

ZMA has also strengthened public awareness—speaking to citizens not through technical jargon but through the language of fairness, dignity, and protection. Businesses now act proactively, while consumers ask new questions.

“We consumers now ask if your scale is verified,” said a Lusaka-based supermarket supervisor.

“It keeps everyone honest,” he said.

For Nkobeni, this cultural shift is one of the agency’s proudest achievements.

“When society starts valuing honest measurements on its own, we move from enforcement to culture-building. That is national progress.”

Yet challenges persist—limited resources, the need for more regional presence, and fast-evolving technology. Nkobeni remains intentional and hopeful:

“We are not where we want to be yet, but we are no longer where we used to be. The trajectory is upward.”

He credits Zambians for embracing the agency’s mission.

“People welcome us with open arms now. They share frustrations, hopes, stories. It reminds us why we do this work.”

As momentum grows, ZMA’s enforcement footprint and credibility have expanded. A nationwide investigation revealed extensive under-delivery in fuel and retail sectors, with consumers losing up to K15 million annually.

A 2024 Zambia Consumer Protection Network study confirmed that before ZMA strengthened inspections, over 65 percent of small retail outlets and 42 percent of urban fuel stations gave less than what they claimed.

The Zambia Metrology Agency (ZMA) and the Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) have intensified inspections leading to improved compliance and consumer protection in retail and fuel sectors.

For example, the Zambia Metrology Agency conducts random inspections of fuel stations to ensure accuracy and fairness in fuel dispensing, aiming to protect consumers from receiving less fuel than claimed. 

The CCPC also reported increased inspections and regulatory enforcement to ensure compliance by retail businesses across Zambia.

ZMA’s Senior Public Relations Officer, Sandra Mwila, provided additional examples: the seizure of underweight shoe polish falsely labeled as full, and the temporary closure of filling stations caught dispensing short fuel.

These stations reopened only after full recalibration—“a firm but collaborative approach,” she explained.

Independent consumer advocate Josephine Chikumbi praised ZMA for its efforts, highlighting that effective oversight by ZMA is not just a formality but a transformative process that builds public trust. She emphasizes that for these gains to be sustained, oversight must be continuous.

This reflects a broader recognition of ZMA’s commitment to enhancing operational efficiency, compliance with metrology standards, and building partnerships that promote fair trade, consumer protection, and industrial growth in Zambia. 

Such efforts contribute significantly to a trusted national measurement system supporting Zambia's industrialization and economic transformation.

“What ZMA is doing shows that oversight is not a formality—it transforms public trust. But it must be continuous for the gains to hold.”

Economist Yusuf Dodia, speaking separately, added context to the national benefits:

“Inaccurate measurements don’t just hurt consumers; they distort the economy. When you fix measurement systems, you stabilize pricing, restore confidence, and strengthen national competitiveness. What ZMA is doing is essential for industrialization and export credibility.”

The agency is also investing heavily in human capital. Thirty-one technicians from KCM and Kansanshi Mine recently completed advanced legal metrology training aligned with the Metrology Act No. 6 of 2017.

“These certifications are essential for reliable industrial measurements used in mining and export,” Mwila said.

In its third-quarter performance, ZMA showed strong momentum. It calibrated over 1,300 instruments in the petroleum, construction, agriculture, and retail sectors. It also completed more than 18,400 verifications, reaching 99 percent of its annual target. In addition, it approved new measuring device models, including bulk flowmeters and portable weighbridges.

In agriculture, ZMA inspected 33 manufacturing sites producing prepackaged goods, achieving compliance rates of 98.8 percent for mealie meal and 99.6 percent for cooking oil. Mwila credits strict oversight paired with stronger internal quality systems among manufacturers.

She stressed that ZMA’s mandate extends beyond trade:

“Public health and environmental safety are central. Errors in pharmaceutical measurements or environmental monitoring could pose serious risks.”

This strengthened performance has earned ZMA global recognition. The agency received the OIML CEEMS Award for excellence in legal metrology, and Nkobeni’s appointment to the CIML Presidential Council places Zambia among the region’s leaders in global measurement governance.

Firm enforcement continues. Licensing for qualified technicians has tightened, and penalties are applied where necessary. Markets in Lusaka and Kitwe faced temporary closures after repeated violations but reopened following corrective action supported by ZMA advisory teams.

Consumer rights lawyer Daniel Mwape observed:

“ZMA shows that technical agencies can enforce accountability without fear or favor. Their impartiality protects ordinary citizens.”

ZMA is also looking ahead. The agency is expanding plans to introduce digital verification records, regional service centres, automated inspection tools, and more advanced calibration capabilities to support emerging industries such as renewable energy and precision agriculture.

“We cannot regulate tomorrow’s economy with yesterday’s tools,” Nkobeni said.

The agency is also deepening community outreach through participation in agricultural and commercial shows, helping everyday consumers understand how accurate measurements anchor fairness in their daily lives.

Despite significant achievements, Nkobeni remains focused on the future:

“Regulation never stops. Technology evolves, trade evolves, and so must we. Our focus is efficiency, compliance, and partnerships. The trajectory is upward.”

With strengthened systems, skilled teams, and focused leadership, ZMA is solidifying a trusted national measurement backbone that enhances consumer confidence, supports industrial growth, and upholds fairness across Zambia’s economy.

“Accuracy in Zambia is no longer just a technical standard—it is becoming a national value. Under Mr. Nkobeni’s stewardship, ZMA stands firmly at the heart of this transformation,” Mwila said.

From early morning inspections to global recognition, ZMA’s journey shows how a highly technical institution, through integrity and people-centred service, can protect citizens, build a stronger economy, and inspire national confidence.