Mutharika appoints CFTC commissioners

President Peter Mutharika has appointed the fourth cohort of commissioners for the Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC), almost three months after expiry of tenures for previous commissioners.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Secretary for Industry and Trade Cliff Chiunda said Mutharika has appointed the commissioners in pursuant to Section 5 of the Competition and Fair Trading Act and will serve for the next three years.

Dr. Gerald Chigona, who served as chairperson in the previous commission as well as three ex-officio members-Secretary to the Treasury, Secretary for Industry and Trade and General Manager Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) have been retained.

Those newly appointed are Joyce Mataya, Mike Kalikokha Mlombwa, Aubrey Makulenga Chalera, Daniel Dunga, Madalitso Mmeta and Kaisi M’bwana Sadala.

CFT executive director Charlotte Malonda has said the new Commissioners bring a wealth of experience to help create a highly competitive and fair trading environment in Malawi.

“This is the fourth cohort of eminent persons to serve as Commissioners for the CFTC. They bring to the Commission a wealth of experience to ably and professionally represent the interests of the business, economists, accountants, lawyers and consumers in order to create a highly competitive and fair trading environment in Malawi,” she said.

Recently, Mutharika approved reforms for the competition and consumer protection regime as part of the ongoing public service reforms in the country.

Among the approved reforms was the amendment of the Competition and Fair Trading Act (CFTA) to eliminate existing gaps and provide for on-spot fines for some violations of consumer protection laws.

CFTC is an autonomous agency of government established to regulate, monitor, control and prevent acts or behaviours which would adversely affect competition and fair trading in Malawi.