14 February 2008
Maputo — The Mozambican government is drawing up a bill on competition, in order to protect consumers from unscrupulous business practices.
Opening a public debate on the matter in Maputo on Thursday, the Minister of Industry and Trade, Antonio Fernando, denounced "discriminatory practices" by unnamed businesses "which result in the restrictive and excessive accumulation of capital and of property, which is not in line with an environment of fair and healthy competition, and makes it difficult for all Mozambicans to take part in the country's economic development".
He admitted that Mozambique's current legislation favours anti-competitive practices "which in fact damage the interests of consumers, in terms both of prices, and of the quality and nature of the goods and services offered".
Fernando wanted to see "a strong legal and institutional framework" which would allow the country "to attain acceptable levels of competitiveness and which promote transparency, equity, and predictability".
That framework should include "independent, autonomous and credible institutions, which can monitor the regulation of competition".
The debate around a competition bill, Fernando said, "is an opportunity for everyone to contribute with their knowledge to create an instrument that will drive the establishment of an effective and credible competitive environment". Such an environment was the guarantee "of further investment opportunities and the better distribution of wealth among Mozambicans".
This two day debate is intended to gather ideas from managers in the private and public sectors, academic institutions, representatives of consumers' associations and other civil society bodies, and from Mozambique's international cooperation partners, about how a Mozambican legal framework for competition can be designed.
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