By Francis Chipalo
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to curb anti-competitive practices and strengthen consumer protection in Zambia’s aviation sector.
The MoU was signed today at the CAA Head Office in Lusaka by CAA Director General Captain Derrick Luembe and CCPC Executive Director Eunice Phiri Hamavhungwa during a joint press briefing.
Captain Luembe described the agreement as “a significant milestone in strengthening institutional collaboration” between the two regulators.
“The aviation sector is a key driver of economic development, tourism, trade, and regional integration,” he said. “As the industry grows and becomes more liberalized, the importance of fair competition, economic regulation, and consumer protection becomes even more critical.”
Luembe said the partnership aligns with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices, ICAO Doc 9626 on the Regulation of International Air Transport, and the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) under the Yamoussoukro Decision.
On the domestic front, the MoU is anchored in the Civil Aviation Authority Act No. 7 of 2012, Civil Aviation Act No. 5 of 2016, and Civil Aviation Authority Act No. 10 of 2024. The CCPC derives its mandate from the Competition and Consumer Protection Act No. 24 of 2010.
A key feature of the MoU is the establishment of a Joint Working Committee. Captain Luembe called it a “technical engine for cooperation” to conduct joint investigations, share intelligence, undertake market studies, and align with international best practices.
“By combining the regulatory expertise of the CAA with the enforcement mandate of the CCPC, we are significantly enhancing our capacity to detect, investigate, and address anti-competitive behavior such as price fixing, abuse of dominance, or unfair trade practices,” he said.
CCPC Executive Director Eunice Phiri Hamavhungwa said the agreement formalizes a shared vision for a “fair, competitive, and consumer-centric aviation sector.”
“This MoU is not merely a formality; it is a declaration of our collective resolve to ensure that the wings of commerce in our skies operate under the highest standards of integrity,” she said.
She outlined four core pillars: joint oversight on investigations, advisory exchange on emerging issues, protecting air traffic and airport operations from unfair trade practices, and preserving operational autonomy.
Both regulators stressed the MoU does not introduce price controls. “Airfares remain determined by market forces – demand, operating costs, and airline business models,” Captain Luembe said. He cited aviation fuel, driven by global geopolitics, as a major cost driver.
For consumers, the MoU is expected to promote transparency in air fares and charges, improve complaint handling, and tackle misleading pricing and poor service delivery.
For the industry, Luembe said the partnership will “promote a level playing field, enhance regulatory certainty, and provide a fair competitive environment that encourages investment, efficiency, innovation, and growth.”
Hamavhungwa added: “Our goal is to harmonize how we interact when investigating complaints, evaluating market conduct, and analyzing anti-competitive practices. We are ensuring that no consumer grievance falls through the cracks and no unfair trade practice goes unchecked.
Both institutions will retain their “separate legal personalities and decision-making independence,” Hamavhungwa said, despite the closer collaboration.
“As we put pen to paper today, let us remember that our ultimate masters are the consumers and the economy of Zambia,” she said. “We are here to ensure that as our aviation sector climbs to new heights, it does so on the engines of fairness, transparency, and competition.”
Captain Luembe reaffirmed the CAA’s commitment to work with the CCPC and industry stakeholders “to ensure that the aviation sector continues to grow in a manner that benefits the economy, the industry, and the travelling public.”
The MoU takes effect immediately. The Joint Working Committee is expected to begin technical meetings in the coming weeks.
