Voluntary peer review of legal and institutional competition framework welcomed, underlining its government’s commitment to a fair business environment
Citizens of Botswana can look forward to improved protection from sharp practice and graft, the southern African nation's minister of investment, trade and industry Bogolo Joy Kenewendo told an UNCTAD meeting of competition experts today.
Ms. Kenewendo travelled to Geneva to receive findings from a voluntary peer review of Botswana's competition law and policy facilitated by UNCTAD and reviewed by experts from South Africa, Kenya and the United States of America.
“Botswana welcomes the peer review recommendations and recognizes competition policy as catalyst for economic development, which has direct impact on economic growth,” Ms. Kenewendo said.
“As a developing nation, one of our key strategies for sustained growth has been to open our markets and liberalize our economy.”
To accompany such reforms Botswana established its competition authority in 2011, Ms. Kenewendo said, and plans to expand its mandate to include consumer protection under a new law enacted in 2018.
“The strengthening of consumer protection by placing the Consumer Protection Act under the administration of the competition authority has been identified as a strategic priority consideration to strengthen and maintain an institutional emphasis on consumer welfare and to reduce the opportunity for business to deny consumers the benefits of competitive markets by engaging in unfair business practices.”
While peer reviewers identified some points for improvement in the scope and application of Botswana's competition law and policy, Ms. Kenewendo said her government accepted the report and welcomed its recommendations.
Reform agenda
“We really appreciate a good job well done,” said Botswana Competition Authority chief executive officer Tebelelo Pule. She said some – but not all – of the review's recommendations, which were based on the former law, have already been addressed by the new law.
The merger of the competition and consumer protection functions was “doable” while being “cognizant of the setbacks”, Ms. Pule said.
By working with others who have gone through it before, she said, “I believe we can execute this mandate”.
The director general of the Competition Authority of Kenya, Francis Kariuki, who was one of the peer reviewers, said: “After you have been peer reviewed, you can use the document to champion the reform agenda in your country”.
Kenya's competition law and policy was peer reviewed under UNCTAD stewardship in 2005, when UNCTAD first start this exercise.
UNCTAD has used the findings and policy recommendations of the Botswana peer review report to a design bespoke technical assistance project to reinforce the effectiveness of competition law enforcement. Development partners and donors have been invited to support the project.
Reducing poverty
UNCTAD's work on competition law and policy recognizes its symbiotic relationship with consumer protection law and policy, and host back-to-back intergovernmental meetings in both fields each year.
“Competition and consumer protection can play a direct and important role in promoting economic growth and reducing poverty, said Teresa Moreira, who leads UNCTAD's work in these fields.
“Competition stimulates innovation, productivity and competitiveness, contributing to an effective business environment,” she said.
“This generates economic growth and employment. It creates possibilities for small and medium-sized enterprises, removing barriers that protect entrenched elites and reducing opportunities for corruption.”
Meanwhile, empowered consumers play an active role in the market and are subject to fewer abuses when they stand to their rights, Ms. Moreira said.
“This directly improves their welfare. It contributes to creating a level playing field for businesses, which in turn supports competition.”
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