Safe Products, Safer Zambia

ZCSA tightens product safety checks and rewards journalists raising awareness on compulsory standards

By Francis Maingaila ♥️

Lusaka, Zambia24 - 28-07-2026 — The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has intensified its fight against unsafe products on the market, urging consumers to report suspicious goods as it strengthens inspections to protect public health, safety and the environment.

Speaking during the agency’s mid-year breakfast media briefing and the unveiling of winners of the 3rd ZCSA Media Awards in Lusaka, ZCSA Executive Director Gerald Chizinga said the agency would continue strengthening monitoring of locally manufactured and imported products to ensure only safe and compliant goods reach consumers.

Mr Chizinga said ZCSA currently regulates 102 locally manufactured and imported products under compulsory standards covering food products, beverages, chemicals, construction materials, electrical appliances, cement, fertilisers, fuel, used motor vehicles and used textile products, among others.

He disclosed that plans were underway to introduce more than 40 additional compulsory standards aimed at further strengthening consumer protection.

Reviewing the agency’s performance for the first half of 2026, Mr Chizinga said the number of active manufacturing entities under the Domestic Quality Monitoring Scheme increased from 318 in 2025 to 373 this year.

He said 81 new companies manufacturing regulated products were registered during the period, compared to 45 recorded during the same period last year, representing an 80 percent increase.

Mr Chizinga said more than half of the registered manufacturers produce food products and beverages, highlighting ZCSA’s focus on ensuring goods consumed by the public meet required safety standards.

He said ZCSA conducts inspections throughout the production process, including checking raw materials, manufacturing processes and packaging before products are released onto the market.

The agency regulates food products such as peanut butter, edible vegetable oil, milk products, processed meat, wheat flour and maize meal, as well as beverages including bottled drinking water, energy drinks and alcoholic beverages.

On petroleum safety, Mr Chizinga said ZCSA inspected 2,047 local road tank vehicles during the first half of 2026 against a target of 1,096, exceeding the target by 87 percent.

He said all inspected vehicles met the required standards, resulting in 2,047 conformity certificates being issued, compared to 1,446 during the same period last year.

Mr Chizinga said the agency had also fully migrated the issuance of conformity certificates for local road tank vehicles to the Government Service Bus platform as part of its digitalisation programme.

On imported products, he said ZCSA cleared 57,281 consignments during the review period compared to 31,304 during the same period in 2025, exceeding its target by 17 percent.

He added that 30,587 used motor vehicles were inspected before entering the Zambian market, representing a 93 percent increase from 15,854 inspected during the same period last year.

Inspections of foreign fuel road tank vehicles also increased from 898 in 2025 to 2,305 this year, with compliance standing at 99 percent.

The overall compliance rate for inspected products covered by compulsory standards stood at 89 percent during the first half of 2026.

Mr Chizinga said ZCSA would continue working with stakeholders and consumers to ensure unsafe products are identified and removed from the market.

“Safe products, safer Zambia” remains the agency’s focus as it strengthens quality checks to protect consumers and public health.

Meanwhile, Mr Chizinga commended the media for helping raise awareness on consumer safety and compulsory standards, saying journalists remained important partners in protecting the public.

He disclosed that the 3rd ZCSA Media Awards attracted 47 entries across radio, television, print, online/digital and most consistent reporting categories.

Mr Chizinga encouraged more journalists across the country to participate in future awards by producing well-researched and impactful stories on consumer protection and standards.

The Chairperson of the Adjudication Committee for the 3rd Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) Media Awards, Mr Henry Kabwe, said the Zambian media had become a vital bridge between technical policies and ordinary citizens by transforming complex issues of product safety and compliance into stories that people could understand.

Speaking during the awards ceremony held at Protea Hotel Arcades, Mr Kabwe said judging the entries was not only about reviewing submissions but also about listening to the stories the media had been telling on standards, quality and consumer protection in Zambia.

He explained that through news bulletins, radio programmes, television features, podcasts and digital stories, journalists had managed to translate issues such as compulsory standards, certification and compliance into relatable information for ordinary Zambians.

Mr Kabwe revealed that this year’s entries included public education stories on why product safety matters, how to identify substandard goods, investigations exposing unsafe products and reports that gave consumers a voice.

He said the committee also appreciated stories highlighting Zambian businesses that were meeting compulsory standards and competing successfully on regional and global markets.

Outlining the judging criteria, Mr Kabwe said entries were assessed based on accuracy, public interest, creativity, ethical reporting and the extent to which they improved public understanding of standards and quality infrastructure in Zambia.

Addressing the winners, he said their work stood out because it informed, protected and inspired communities, reminding the country that quality was not just a slogan but a matter of safety, trust, jobs and Zambia’s competitiveness.

Mr Kabwe encouraged all journalists who submitted entries to continue reporting on standards, saying every story published on the subject helps move the country closer to a market where consumers are protected and Zambian products are respected.

He also acknowledged commendable submissions published on platforms with limited readership, advising media houses operating such platforms to invest in expanding their reach.

Mr Kabwe thanked ZCSA for creating a platform that recognises the media as a key partner in the country’s standards journey.

He said as Zambia continues to industrialise under Vision 2030 and participate in trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the importance of product standards would continue growing, alongside the responsibility of the media to explain them to the public.

He reminded journalists that compulsory standards do not speak for themselves and that the media gives them a voice by helping build a culture of quality through consistent reporting.

At the same occasion, ZCSA recognised journalists whose reporting has contributed to public awareness on compulsory standards, consumer protection and product safety.

Capital FM journalist Lucy Nambela led the media honourees and described the recognition as “humbling and encouraging,” saying the awards reaffirmed the important role of journalism in informing, educating and empowering citizens to make informed decisions.

The 3rd ZCSA Media Awards recognised outstanding journalists across different media platforms, with Ms Nambela emerging as the 2025 Overall Winner after scooping first place in the Best Article on Compulsory Standards (Radio) category.

Other winners included Kennedy Mbewe of Hope Channel Zambia and Lucky Phiri of ZNBC TV, who emerged first and second respectively in the Best Article on Compulsory Standards (Television) category.

In the print category, Jessica Mwansa of Times of Zambia won first place, while Zipporah Mushala of Zambia Daily Mail was second.

Cecilia Chiluba of Money FM Radio was recognised as the winner in the digital category, while Mercy Mulenga of YAR FM received the award for the Most Consistent Journalist.

Phyllis Banda of Faith Radio emerged second in the radio category.

The awards honoured journalists whose work has helped highlight issues around product quality, counterfeit goods and consumer safety, with ZCSA emphasising the media’s role in promoting awareness and accountability in the marketplace.

Delivering a vote of thanks on behalf of the honourees, Ms Nambela thanked ZCSA management, the judging panel, organisers and media houses for supporting journalists to produce stories that contribute to public awareness and national development.

She said the recognition should motivate journalists to continue producing accurate and impactful stories that educate communities and promote professional journalism.

Ms Nambela also encouraged fellow recipients to view the awards as a celebration of their shared commitment to responsible reporting and a reminder of the media’s responsibility to serve the public interest.

The honourees pledged to strengthen collaboration with ZCSA and other stakeholders in translating technical issues around standards and consumer protection into information that members of the public can easily understand and use.

The partnership between regulators and the media, they said, remains critical in helping consumers make informed choices and promoting safer products in Zambia.