Cama condemns shop owners in Malawi

Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) has condemned shop owners who force customers to surrender their handbags at the reception when they want to purchase goods.

Cama, in a statement released last week and signed by its executive director John Kapito, described the tendency as unethical.

“This practice and behaviour by shop owners is mainly targeted at women and we find it unethical, abusive and demeaning on both women and consumers’ rights.

“While we appreciate that shop owners must put in place security measures which are legal but such security measures must not create pain and anxiety among women shoppers. Most women carry handbags with personal items such as money and other important information that cannot be surrendered to any other person,” reads the statement in part.