NCCI pushes for enactment of consumer protection act

The northern branch of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce & Industry (NCCI) has urged authorities to speed up the process leading up to the enactment of the consumer protection act.

The Chamber said this during their 1st Executive Committee meeting held last week in Ongwediva.

The Chairperson of NCCI, Tomas Koneka Iindji urged government to accelerate the process of the law that protects consumers and said that the act is set to empower consumers to lodge complaints about the service provider while it will promote ethical business practice.

Iindji said that consumer protection covers a wide range of topics, which include product liability, privacy rights, unfair business practices, fraud, misrepresentation, and other business interactions.

“This act is pivotal for our development agenda in many ways. The law will force service providers to explain their products and services better and vehemently protect the interests of the consumer,” he added.

Moreover, he said the Consumer Protection Act is tipped to promote a fair, accessible and sustainable market place for consumer products and services.

At the same event, the committee also welcomed the tax amnesty by the Namibian government which will start on 1 February.

The tax amnesty will see penalties waved 100% and interest reduced by 80% provided that outstanding capital has been fully paid.

“Tax amnesties don’t come around often anywhere in there world. People should take this opportunity with both hands and get their tax affairs in order. The outcry over equality means there is little sympathy for people who have built up wealth without paying tax,” he said.

Furthermore he thanked the government for such consideration and urged all the members to honour their tax obligations.

“The major source of Revenue for the government of the country is tax revenues. These revenues are used by the government to fund the development initiatives of the country – such as the building of roads and other construction projects such as the maintenance of schools, hospitals and many more,” he added.

“This revenue is collected from individuals, organizations and businesses. We acknowledge that amnesty but we want to make it clear that we are all obliged to pay taxes,” he concluded.