Abstract:
Everyone, regardless of human nature or social standing, is a consumer. Every consumer's
livelihood depends on their ability to respond to market forces. However, the market is not
always optimal for protecting consumers' rights and interests. To avoid illegal market practices
and protect consumers' interests, international and national jurisdictions, including Ethiopia,
have created consumer protection laws and enforcement institutions. Despite these laws and the
agencies in charge of executing them, there are numerous infractions and unlawful market
practices in Ethiopia, particularly in the Bench Sheko zone. This paper aimed to examine the
enforcement of those consumer protection laws in Bench Sheko zone, SWPER. The research is an
empirical one, and the data collected was analyzed through qualitative methodology in light of
what was provided under the law and other institutional standards. The study found problems
with enforcement of consumer protection in the Bench Sheko zone emanated from legal,
institutional, and other problems such as lack of budget, logistics, legal knowledge, political
intervention, and prolonged procedure due to the dispersed duty of the enforcing agency. Lack of
precision in the jurisdiction of regional courts and in consumer protection violations and
corresponding administrative measures also obstructs the enforcement of consumer protection
laws in the Bench Sheko zone. Based on those findings, the researcher recommended the law
should be revised on regional court’s jurisdiction and administrative and criminal penalties,
enforcing agencies needed to be restructured and budget, manpower and capacity also be
improved in Bench Sheko zone
