Taking Competition Law and Policy to the People

The Competition Authority and the Competition Commission held the second National Stakeholders Conference in Francistown at Cresta Marang Gardens on Tuesday September 25, 2012. The Conference held under the theme, ‘Creating Wealth through Fair Competition’ was part of the advocacy programme to raise awareness of Competition law and promote compliance to the Competition Act.

The conference attracted participants from the business community, academia, labour, politicians, government departments and the general public. His Worship the Mayor of the City of Francistown Mr James Kgalajwe welcomed the participants to the conference and Director responsible for membership of the Botswana Confederation of Commerce and Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM), Mr Norman Moleele officially opened the Conference. Moleele informed the conference that business and competition agencies should never be misconstrued as adversaries. He contended that business need to operate under a climate of a fair market that is not distorted by dominance and other competition abuses.

Through the Competition Authority CEO and his directors from Mergers and Monopolies, Legal and Enforcement and Competition and Research Analysis, the participants were taken through the rudiments of competition including an excavation of the mandate and role of the Competition Authority.

The participants were also informed that Competition is geared towards bringing fairness in the market and that it protects businesses and the consumers from over-exploitation. The presenters extolled the benefits of competition. Some of the benefits of competition were identified as easy market access, innovation and possible price reduction due to a competitive market amongst others.

The Deputy Chairperson of the Competition Commission, Mr Gaylard Kombani highlighted the difference between the Authority and the Commission. He said the Commission plays a dual role by serving as a board to the Authority while serving as the adjudicative body in competition cases. The Authority on the other hand is mainly concerned with investigating competition abuses or conduct that undermines the competition act.
The conference also heard presentations from Labour and a topical discussion on chain stores and franchising by Professor Roman Grynberg of BIDPA. There was also and international flavour when a representative of the Namibian Competition Commission Mr Vitalis Ndalikokule shared the Namibian experience.