The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) and the Zambia Motor Dealers Association (ZMDA) have joined forces to make sure that imports of used motor vehicles into Zambia are only roadworthy. The two agencies have collaborated to enforce safety measures and increase enforcement of Zambia’s required standards for importing used vehicles.
In a Sunday statement, ZCSA Legal and Compliance Director Tafuna Mumba Phiri emphasized cooperation between the two organizations. In addressing the citizens of Lusaka during a stakeholder engagement meeting held on Friday, Phiri reiterated the agency’s resolve to cooperate with motor dealers so that all imported cars are in line with the expected safety standards. She urged importers to comply with the Zambian Standard for used motor vehicles, specifically the compulsory pre-shipment inspection requirement.
This regime of inspection is imposed by the agents in exporting countries and is designed to restrict the potential of inferior and unsafe vehicles from entering Zambia. Ensuring that the vehicles are roadworthy before they are imported is designed to improve public safety and reduce accidents caused by faulty or unroadworthy vehicles.
ZCSA governs the Zambian Standard ZS 560, which is a statutory code of practice to examine and test second-hand motor vehicles for roadworthiness. By this legislation, all imported used vehicles from other nations must subject themselves to thorough safety inspection before they can be exported to Zambia. The mandate only admits those vehicles with specified standards into the country, thus protecting the consumers from purchasing vehicles that are risky to use.
During the meeting of engagement, ZMDA Chairperson Kelvin Kameta put emphasis on how the two entities had to work in tandem so that substandard cars did not find their way into the nation. He assured that ZMDA would make importers understand the importance of following Zambia’s mandatory safety requirements. Kameta further pointed out that many second-hand cars penetrate the Zambian market each year, hence the enforcement of safety standards as a way to safeguard motorists as well as other road users.
The high volume of used cars imported into Zambia has prompted the government to implement stringent measures to safeguard the public. The imposition of the Zambian Standard ZS 560 as compulsory is a reflection of the government’s determination to ensure that vehicles on Zambian roads meet a certain standard of safety. Unsafe vehicles not only put drivers and passengers at risk but also contribute to increased road accidents and fatalities.
To enhance compliance, ZCSA has intensified public education and stakeholders’ outreach programmes. The programmes aim at making people aware of compulsory safety standards in various groups of products, including motor vehicles. Through workshop sessions, consultative forums, and sensitization exercises, the agency aims to inform importers, dealers, and the public about the imperative of compliance with Zambia’s standards.
The joint effort of ZMDA and ZCSA is a significant step towards improving road safety in Zambia. By working together, these bodies can ensure that only those cars meet the required standards of safety before entering the country. Not only does this safeguard the consumers from purchasing faulty vehicles, but it also lessens road accidents caused by faulty cars.
In the future, continuous collaboration and strict adherence to safety requirements will be crucial to the maintenance of high roadworthiness levels in imported used vehicles in Zambia.
