BULAWAYO business community is baying for Competition and Tariff Commission (CTC) director Ellen Ruparanganda’s blood, accusing her of resisting to decentralize and cater for their needs, Zim Morning Post can report.
Flyers and deafening calls from pressure groups have been circulating in Bulawayo, calling for Rupanganda’s ouster.
Bulawayo Residents Association recently invited Ruparanganda to address their concerns, but she snubbed them.
“We are aware that your commission recently made a decision to stop industry self-price regulation initiatives by the Grain Marketing Association of Zimbabwe, which were meant to protect consumers from unjustified price increases of maize meal.
“We, therefore, invite your commission to address Bulawayo residents on the October 19, 2019 on these important national issues,” the invitation letter read.
She has not responded to the calls, prompting the business community and pressure groups to sign a petition that has already been delivered to the Minister of Industry and Trade this week.
Industry players in Bulawayo lamented over lack of protection and neglect by the CTC.
“We need to be protected as a business and the CTC turned down our invitation to address us in Bulawayo and map the way forward on how we can be protected.
“We call for the dissolution of the Commission and the immediate resignation of its director,” said one businessman in the textile industry.
Ruparanganda has been accused of prioritising her African Competition role while ignoring the needs and demands of the local office.
Efforts to contact Ruparanganda proved fruitless as her office said she had travelled out of the country on CTC business.
The acting director, Don Chinhengo, confirmed knowledge of the Bulawayo business community’s disgruntlement, but said he had no capacity to speak on behalf of Ruparanganda.
“Well, the director is away and I cannot comment on issues pertaining to her, I have no capacity,” Chinhengo said.
Ruparanganda has been at the helm of CTC for the past five years.
CTC is a statutory board which was established in 2001 through an Act of Parliament with the role to implement and enforce competition policy and law as well as execute the country’s trade tariffs.
