Examining the Practice and Enforcement of Consumer Protection Law in Ethiopia, the Case of Bench-Sheko Zone, SWEPR

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