FCC Online Newsletter January-March. 2014

Notisi ya Tume ya Ushindani kwa Wafanyabiashara Nchini Tanzania

NOTISI YA TUME YA USHINDANI KWA WAFANYABIASHARA NCHINI TANZANIA

(Imetolewa chini ya Kifungu Na. 9(1)(b) cha Sheria ya Ushindani, 2003)

Sheria ya Ushindani, Namba 8 ya Mwaka 2003 imetungwa kwa ajili ya kulinda na kushajiisha ushindani wa dhati katika mfumo wa uchumi wa soko na kumlinda mlaji/mteja dhidi ya mbinu na mienendo potofu na onevu ya kibiashara.

Ili kusimamia kwa ufanisi misingi ya ushindani katika uchumi wa soko na kuhakikisha kuwa mlaji/mteja analindwa ipasavyo, Sheria hii imekataza mambo kadhaa ambayo yamegawanywa katika  mafungu makubwa matatu ambayo ni:

a) Makubaliano yanayokiuka ushindani (Anti-competitive agreements) (Vifungu vya 8 na 9).

b)   Matumizi mabaya ya nguvu ya soko (Misuse of Market Power) (kifungu cha 10).

c) Miungano ya Kampuni inayoimarisha hodhi ya soko (Mergers and Acquisitions, Kifungu cha 11).

Hivi karibuni, ilisikika katika vyombo vya habari kuwa wafanyabiashara sehemu mbalimbali nchini, bila ya kuwajali walaji/wateja wao,  waliamua kufanya mgomo na kufunga biashara zao kwa sababu ya kulalamikia utumiaji wa mashine za kielektroniki za kutoa risiti kwa mteja (EFD), jambo lisilowahusu wateja wao. Mgomo huo ulileta  usumbufu na kuwaumiza zaidi walaji/wateja kwani hawakuweza kupata bidhaa na huduma walizohitaji kwa wakati na wengine kupata hasara.

Kwa mujibu wa taarifa za habari, vitendo vya namna hii vya wafanyabiashara vinaendelea kushamiri siku hadi siku na wanasahau kuwa Sheria ya Ushindani inazuia vitendo kama hivyo.  Sheria ya Ushindani katika kipengele cha 9(1)(b) inazuia washindani katika biashara kuingia katika makubaliano ya kugoma kuuza bidhaa au huduma kwa sababu kitendo hicho husababisha mlaji (consumer)/mteja (customer) kukosa haki yake ya kisheria ya kupata bidhaa au huduma muhimu.

Kutokana na ufafanuzi huu hapo juu, Tume ya Ushindani inatoa notisi hii kwa wafanyabiashara wote nchini kuwa:-

1)   Kufanya mgomo wa kuuza bidhaa na huduma  kwa walaji/wateja ni kinyume cha Sheria ya Ushindani, Na. 8/ 2003, na hatua za kisheria zinaweza kuchukuliwa dhidi yao.

2)   Jitihada za kutanzua migogoro ya kibiashara kati yao na taasisi za Serikali haziwahusu walaji/wateja wao na kitendo chochote cha kuwaumiza walaji na kuzuia ushindani katika soko ni kinyume cha Sheria ya Ushindani, Na. 8/ 2003, na hatua za kisheria zinaweza kuchukuliwa dhidi yao.

POKEA NOTISI HII KUWA Tume ya Ushindani itafanya uchunguzi wa migomo iwapo itatokea tena kwa mjibu wa Sheria ya Ushindani, Na. 8/ 2003. Pia tahadhari inatolewa kwa wahusika wote kuwa makini na vitendo vya kugoma kuuza bidhaa au hudumu ili kuepuka hatua kali za kisheria kuchukuliwa dhidi yao.

NOTISI HII IMETOLEWA NA TUME YA USHINDANI

TAREHE 19 Septemba, 2014

FREDERICK RINGO

MKURUGENZI MKUU

TUME YA USHINDANI

Picha za Simu Bandia ZIlizokamatwa katika Operesheni ya Septemba 11, 2014

 Askari Polisi akilinda usalama wakati wa operesheni ya kukamata simu bandia Septemba 11, 2014

   Maafisa Wakaguzi wakikagua moja ya maduka ya simu wakati wa operesheni ya Septemba 11, 2014

 Maboksi halisi yanayotumika kufungashia simu bandia katika moja ya maduka kama yalivyokutwa wakati wa operesheni ya Septemba 11, 2014

  Simu bandia zikiwa pamoja na maboksi halisi yanayotumika kuzifungashia katika moja ya maduka wakati wa operesheni ya Septemba 11, 2014

 
Seized counterfeit mobile phones at FCC Office Premises on 12th September, 2014


A cross sectionof Seized boxes used for packaging counterfeit mobile phones at FCC Office Premises on 12th September, 2014

Mtaalamu kutoka kampuni ya Samsung akizikagua simu zilizokamatwa, zikiwa katika ofisi za FCC, Septemba 12, 2014.

FCC Yakamata SImu Bandia za Sh Mil 72.25

TAARIFA KWA VYOMBO VYA HABARI

FCC Yakamata Simu Bandia za Sh. 72.25m/-

Dar es Salaam, Septemba 13, 2014. Tume ya Ushindani imeendesha zoezi la ukaguzi wa kushtukiza katika eneo la Kariakoo na kukamata simu bandia za mkononi aina ya Samsung na Blackberry.

Zoezi hilo lililofanyika Septemba 11, 2014 liliwezesha kukamatwa kwa simu bandia 289 zenye jumla ya thamani ya Sh. 72,250,000.

Uchunguzi zaidi umebaini kuwa thamani iliyotajwa ya bei ya soko ya simu hizo bandia ni robo tu ya thamani ya simu halisi, lakini simu hizo bandia zilizokamatwa baadhi zilikutwa zimefungashwa kwenye maboksi ya simu halisi.

Wamiliki wa Maduka yaliyokaguliwa na simu bandia kupatikana yanamilikiwa na Hamadi Bakari Hamadi (simu 27), Hamadi Juma Musa (simu 62 na maboksi matupu 47), Fatuma Gharib Mohammed (simu 72 na betri 5), Jarade Zahor Mohammed (simu 47), Selemani Juman Selemani (simu 35) na Bakari J. Khatib (simu 44 na simu moja isiyo na nembo iliyokuwa ikifanana na  simu za Samsung pamoja na simu moja bandia ya Blackberry).

Wafanyabiashara husika wote walipatiwa hati za kukamatiwa bidhaa zao. Aidha wahusika walitoa maelezo katika kituo cha polisi cha Msimbazi kuhusiana na na kukamatwa na bidhaa hizo ili hatua zaidi za kisheria ziweze kuchukuliwa.

Wafanyabiashara husika wamekwishaagizwa hatua za kuchukua kwa mujibu wa Sheria ya Alama za Bidhaa, inayokataza biashara ya bidhaa bandia. Kwa mujibu wa Sheria hiyo, wafanyabishara wanaokamatwa na bidhaa bandia hutakiwa kulipa faini stahiki pamoja na gharama za uteketezaji wa shehena za bidhaa zilizokamatwa, kulingana na tathmini inayofanyika kuhusiana na bidhaa hiyo.

Zoezi hilo la ukaguzi wa kushitukiza lilitokana na maombi ya Wawakilishi wa Hataza na Alama za Biashara za Samsung, Kampuni ya “Anti Illicit Trade”, yenye makao yake jijini Nairobi, Kenya.

Ukaguzi wa kushitukiza na ukamataji wa bidhaa bandia ni zoezi endelevu. Kwa mantiki hiyo, Tume ya Ushindani inawaasa wafanyabishara wote kujiepusha na kuagiza, kusarifisha, kuchukua bidhaa hizo toka wakala feki na kujishughulisha na bishara ya bidhaa bandia kwa kuwa ni kosa la jinai linaloambatana adhabu kali za faini na kifungo.

Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa Tume ya Ushindani ni Mkaguzi Mkuu wa Sheria ya Alama za Bidhaa mwenye jukumu la kuongoza mapambano dhidi ya bidhaa bandia katika soko la Tanzania bara. Sheria inampa mamlaka Mkaguzi Mkuu kufanya ukaguzi wa mizigo na bidhaa katika maingilio yote ya bidhaa pamoja na maduka, maghala na maeneo yanayomilikiwa na watu binafsi yanayohofiwa kuficha au kuhodhi bidhaa bandia.

Sheria pia inampa Mkaguzi Mkuu mamlaka ya kukamata bidhaa zinazoshukiwa kuwa bandia pamoja na kutoa adhabu za kiutawala ambazo ni pamoja na adhabu za kutoza faini na gharama za uteketezaji wa bidhaa zilizokamatwa na kuthibitishwa kuwa ni bandia.

Imetolewa leo Septemba 13, 2014 na

Frederick Ringo

MKAGUZI MKUU, SHERIA YA ALAMA ZA BIDHAA

FCC Seizes Counterfeit Mobile Phones Woth TZS 72.5m/-

PRESS RELEASE

FCC Seize Counterfeit Mobile Phones Worth TZS 72.25m/-

Dar es Salaam, 13^th September, 2014. The Fair Competition Commission has conducted a search and seizure operation in Kariakoo Central Business District in six shops and seized counterfeited Samsung and Blackberry mobile phones.

The search and seizure operation which was conducted in six shops on 11^th September, 2014 led to confiscation of 289 pieces of counterfeit Samsung and Blackberry mobile phones valued at TShs 72,250,000.

Further investigation revealed that the actual sale value is hardly 1/4^th the actual price of genuine counterparts of the seized gadgets, but the same are sold in genuine packages despite being themselves counterfeits.

The shops in which the gadgets were seized are owned by Hamadi Bakari Hamadi (27 pcs), Hamadi Juma Musa (62pcs & 47 empty boxes), Fatuma Gharib Mohammed (72pcs and 5 batteries), Jarade Zahor Mohammed (47pcs), Selemani Juman Selemani (35pcs) and Bakari J. Khatib (44pcs and one unbranded piece imitating Samsung and one piece imitating Blackberry).

Seizure notices were served to all parties whose shops were caught stocking counterfeit brands of mobile gadgets and police statements for the same have also been taken at Msimbazi Police Station for further legal action.

The respondents are destined to comply with the enforcement provisions of the Merchandise Marks Act which entail paying statutory fines and the costs of destruction of seized counterfeit items.

A Nairobi based Brand Protection Agency, M/S Anti Illicit Trade, prompted the search and seizure operation, after making a detailed investigation on the suspected shops.

The search and seizure operation is an on-going exercise. To that end, FCC warns all traders and merchandise importers to desist from importing, transporting, purchasing from false agents and trading in counterfeit goods, since the same is a criminal offence attracting heavy penalties in terms of fines and jail-terms.

The Director General of FCC is the Chief Inspector of the Merchandise Marks Act charged with the responsibility of spearheading the fight against counterfeit goods in the Tanzania Mainland market. The Act confers upon the Chief inspector powers to search and inspect goods in all entry points and privately owned premises suspected to stock counterfeit goods.

The Chief inspector is also mandated to seize suspected counterfeit goods and proof of counterfeit status, to institute penalties in terms of statutory fines and charge destruction fees on offenders.

Issued today, 13^th September, 2014 by the MMA Chief Inspector

Frederick Ringo

MMA CHIEF INSPECTOR

Pictures from the 6th Annual African Consumer Protection Dialogue Meeting in Lilongwe Malawi

Malawian Minister for Industry and Trade, Hon. Joseph Mwanamveka (MP), administering the inaugural speech on 8th September, 2014 at the 6th Annual African Consumer Protection Dualogue Meeting held at Crossroads Hotel in Lilonge Malawi.

 FCC's Director General, Dr. Frederick Ringo (in gestures), speaking during the 6th Annual African Consumer Protection Dialogue Meeting at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe Malawi, left (in blue shirt and dark coat) is FCC's Senior Consumer Protection Officer, Mr. Joshua Msoma and to Dr. Ringo's left is a South African delegate.

  FCC's Director General, Dr. Frederick Ringo (in gestures), speaking during the 6th Annual African Consumer Protection Dialogue Meeting at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe Malawi, left (in blue shirt and dark coat) is FCC's Senior Consumer Protection Officer, Mr. Joshua Msoma and to Dr. Ringo's left is a South African delegate.

 FCC's Senior Consumer Protection Officer, Mr. Joshua Msoma, speaking during the 6th Annual African Consumer Protection Dialogue Meeting at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe Malawi.

 Executive Secretary of the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority's Consumer Consultative Council, Eng. Goodluck Mmari, speaking during the 6th Annual African Consumer Protection Dialogue Meeting at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe Malawi.

Tanzanian Delegation in a dinner organised by Tanzanian High Commissioner in Malawi, H.E. Patrick Tsere (3rd from left, in African attire) in Lilongwe Malawi on 9th September, 2014.

Tanzanian Delegation in a dinner organised by Tanzanian High Commissioner in Malawi, H.E. Patrick Tsere (3rd from left, in African attire) in Lilongwe Malawi on 9th September, 2014.

African Consumer Bodies Meet in Malawi to Discuss Cross-boerder trade challenges

Dar es Salaam, 14 September, 2014. African Consumer Protection Bodies met in September, 2014 in Lilongwe, Malawi, to discuss cross-border collaborations to curtail consumer violations in trade.

The three days Annual African Consumer Protection Dialogue meeting which was held at Crossroads Hotel from 8th to 10th September, 2014, was officially opened by the Malawian Minister for Industry and Trade, Hon. Joseph Mwanamveka (MP).

He called on the urgency for coordinated efforts involving both the African consumer protection bodies as well as the civil society organisations and development partners in order to to make "consumer exploitation a history.

The Minister also stressed the need for African countries to stretch the cross-border cooperation in combating counterfeit products, which have turned African and other developing countries "dumping sites" for such goods. He called for meaningful inspection for imported goods at entry points to ascertain their use-worthiness.

The Minister pointed out that the 6th African Consumer Protection Dialogue Meeting will create a forum for African states to share experiences on issues of consumer rights.

His speech was preceded by that of Dr Gerard Chigona, Chairperson of the Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) who alluded that globalization and increased trends of cross border trade led to escalation of consumer rights violations in cross boarder trade.

He called for establishment of a strong and effective international cooperation and information sharing framework in order to ensure that there is an effective enforcement of sanctions to put cross border consumer violations on check.

Tanzania was represented by four Consumer law enforcing agencies and one Consumer Advocacy Group. The Tanzanian Delegation was headed by the Director General of the Fair Competition Commission, Dr. Frederick Ringo. Other agencies in the delegation included the Consumer Consultative Councils of EWURA, SUMATRA and TCAA as well as the Tanzania Consumer Advocacy Society (TCAS).

FCC presented papers in relation to Consumer Education, Cross-border collaborations, Enforcement of Consumer Protection Issues, Investigative Plans and Mobile Finances and its challenges. Additionally the Director General of FCC, Dr. Frederick Ringo, co-chaired one of the sessions on consumer protection/enforcement aspects.

The Tanzanian delegation paid a courtesy call at the Tanzanian High Commissioner in Malawi, H.E. Patrick Tsere on 11th September, 2014. Similarly, the delegation had an opportunity of having a joint dinner hosted by H.E. the High Commissioner on 9th September, 2014.

African Consumer Protection Dialogue, which is an international forum for discussing consumer protection issues is an effort established in 2009 with a view to providing an opportunity to African governments, civil society organisations and the United States government to interface with each other and share best practices on the enforcement of consumer protection laws. The same runs monthly teleconferences on consumer issues and holds one annual meeting on the subject matter. 

Photos of Counterfeit Salt Seized in Magomeni in August, 2014

 

Porters unloading a consignment of 10.8 tonnes of Mali-Hindi (Counterfeit Malindi) salt at a storage site. The consignment was seized by FCC inspectors in an operation in Manzese, Dar es Salaam on 14th August, 2014.

Porters unloading a consignment of 10.8 tonnes of Mali-Hindi (Counterfeit Malindi) salt at a storage site. The consignment was seized by FCC inspectors in an operation in Manzese, Dar es Salaam on 14th August, 2014.

Porters unloading a consignment of 10.8 tonnes of Mali-Hindi (Counterfeit Malindi) salt at a storage site. The consignment was seized by FCC inspectors in an operation in Manzese, Dar es Salaam on 14th August, 2014.

Porters unloading a consignment of 10.8 tonnes of Mali-Hindi (Counterfeit Malindi) salt at a storage site. The consignment was seized by FCC inspectors in an operation in Manzese, Dar es Salaam on 14th August, 2014.

Porters unloading a consignment of 10.8 tonnes of Mali-Hindi (Counterfeit Malindi) salt at a storage site. The consignment was seized by FCC inspectors in an operation in Manzese, Dar es Salaam on 14th August, 2014.

Porters unloading a consignment of 10.8 tonnes of Mali-Hindi (Counterfeit Malindi) salt at a storage site. The consignment was seized by FCC inspectors in an operation in Manzese, Dar es Salaam on 14th August, 2014.