Africa-Press – Angola. Seven companies in the municipality of Benguela were fined by the National Authority for Economic Inspection and Food Safety (ANIESA), in the first half of this month, for price speculation, this Tuesday.
ANIESA’s measure was due to the attitude of these merchants in charging prices outside the normal price list, due to the rise in the price of gasoline (from 160 to 300 Kz) and the constant devaluation of the national currency, the Kwanza.
According to the municipal director of inspection, economic inspection and food safety, Frederico Pangula, disciplinary proceedings were opened against four companies due to the seriousness of their actions, while the other three deserved only warnings because their action was “lighter”.
The most serious penalties, according to Frederico Pangula, have to do with counterfeit products, in a state of expiry and in poor condition.
“For serious offences, fines can exceed 100,000 kwanzas, while the others are just over 30,000 kz”, he explained.
The director warned that the consequences will be harsh because in addition to the amount to be paid, which should help to boost their own business, entrepreneurs will still have to comply with some procedures to reopen their establishment.
Referring to prices, he gave the example of a 25-kilogram bag of rice, which cost 7,000 kwanzas and now costs between 16,000 and 17,000 kz. Building materials also stand out among those that have undergone significant changes.
“We are aware of the devaluation of the currency, but the products that are being sold at speculative prices have already been in the national territory for some time, while the rise in gasoline prices and the devaluation of the kwanza are recent”, he said.
In his opinion, there is an advantage on the part of businessmen because, in relation to fuel, the State only raised the price of gasoline and not that of diesel, which is, for the most part, used by agriculture, livestock, fishing and other industries .
He took the opportunity to inform that the institution, at municipal level, will convene a meeting with businessmen, next July, to transmit to them a set of measures linked to the performance of the inspection, so that companies are well organized from the point of view licensing and other situations.
“We continue to have a pedagogical role with a view to sensitizing entrepreneurs to be aligned, so that together we can achieve price stability”, said the director
Frederico Pangula criticized, on the other hand, the amount of solid waste produced by economic agents, leaving them under the responsibility of the Municipal Administration of Benguela.
For him, everyone should be guided by good behavior in relation to the treatment of garbage, so that this mogose can recover a better image of the municipality.
The National Authority for Economic Inspection and Food Safety is an institution that results from the merger of the sectoral Inspection services for Industry, Commerce, Tourism, Environment, Transport, Health, Agriculture and Fisheries.
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