TAKE NOTICE that the Competition and Fair Trading Commission has officially commenced investigations against some cross-border bus operators namely Intercape Bus Company, Jobella Star Bus Services and Taqwa Bus services for allegedly engaging in unconscionable conduct in the trade of goods and services.
The investigations have been instituted following complaints the Commission has received from people who accessed passenger and baggage transportation services from the said cross-border bus operators. The complaints are mainly on the following aspects:
- Customers’ goods getting lost in transit, and the bus company denying liability for the same;
- Customers’ goods broken or damaged in transit, and the bus company denying liability for the same; and
- Improper handling of passengers particularly not attending to their physical or health situations during the trips.
The Competition and Fair Trading Commission is interested in these cases as they raise serious concerns under the Competition and Fair Trading Act (CFTA) and the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) which, among other things, prohibit suppliers of goods and services from engaging in unconscionable conduct. The conduct by the said bus companies appear to amount to a violation of Section 43 (1) (g) of the CFTA which states that “a person shall not, in relation to a consumer, engage in unconscionable conduct in the trade of goods and services.”
Further, it has come to the attention of the Commission that the bus operators have demonstrated unwillingness to provide satisfactory assistance to the affected travellers when they presented their complaints to their respective offices.
Call for Submissions
In view of the foregoing, the Commission hereby invites submissions from all interested parties and the general public on any information regarding their experiences with the international bus operators including the above mentioned operators. Submissions should include information on particular unfair conduct experienced, the evidence of travel and the goods deposited with the carrier. Please note that all representations submitted to the Commission on this matter will be treated with the strictest confidentiality and will only be used for the purposes of this investigation.
If you need clarification or further information regarding this Notice, please, contact the Commission through Ms. Goldameir Marobe on phone number +265 991 000 266 or email goldameir.marobe@cftc.mw. If you want to submit a complaint or evidence concerning this matter, please channel them to:-
The Executive Director,
Competition and Fair Trading Commission,
1st Floor – New Golden Peacock Office Complex, City Centre,
Private Bag 332, Lilongwe 3.
Telephone: +265 310 001 440 or +265 310 001 441
E-mail: competitioncommission@cftc.mw ; consumer@cftc.mw
Martha Kaukonde
ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR