Recently
the Economist newspaper also weighed in on the issue of fluctuating milk
prices. “Milk prices on Namibian supermarket shelves are baffling local
consumers. It used to be that there was a minor price difference between
imported South African dairy products and the local brands, but this was
usually in the order of one dollar or less.”
This issue
has also been covered by the Namibia Consumer Protection Group (NCPG) when they
proposed the 2013 Consumer Day be named “Namibia Milk Price Day”. The idea was
for any Namibian consumer to buy a litre of milk and then inform the NCPG of
the type of milk, the price they paid and where they bought their litre of
milk.
The Consumer Action
explained
This year
2013, the Namibia Consumer Protection Group (a lobby group and supporter of
consumer activism) is asking people around the country to buy on 15 March 2013
a litre milk everywhere in Namibia, and then please post on the website the price they paid and the store
where they bought it. Perhaps we can we create awareness why we need a Consumer
Protection Law and we can all see to what in-fluxed prices and irregularities
exist in our own land of the brave. The idea is that every time you buy a litre
of milk, you visit the webpage http://www.namibiamilk.com/ and upload your
details.
The page
will continue to operate for the next year to allow us to correlate data on
what consumer throughout the country are being charged for this basic
necessity.
Remember it
iss easy, "You can report the price of milk online. Simply go to
www.namibiamilk.com and click on the 'submit a report' button. Alternatively
find us on Facebook by searching for Namibia Milk Price Day".
It is
important that consumer in Namibia should start demanding their rights. The way
it is going at present, we are simply made promises and none of them are being
kept.
Update
Since the
start of the action, numerous consumers have reported the price they paid for
milk and it was confusing to see how prices can fluctuate for the same product
in different stores in one location such as Windhoek.
What was
even more surprising (and confusing) was how prices could differ IN THE SAME
STORE on different days. The prices in a period of two weeks went up and down
from a low of N$ 12.99 to a high of N$ 15.70. That’s right, the price went up,
then down, then up again without any understandable reason.
The
consumer is being ripped off as most of us buy our milk on a daily basis and do
not regularly check the price. How often have you not rushed into a shop to buy
a milk and bread and paid without checking the price?
Infant Industry Protection
Now add to
this the protection given to the dairy industry to protect them from milk
imports from other countries, especially South Africa. This allows the local
industry to increase their prices to “ensure their profitability” and prevents
the consumer form choosing a product that suits their pocket.
As
Namibians we can support the infant protection because it ensures there are
more jobs for Namibians, but are we going to allow ourselves to be ripped off
because our hearts are in the right place?
The way forward
The
Government of the Republic of Namibia is urged to look into the matter and
explain to the consumers how this sector is being regulated to ensure that the
“infant protection” status is not allowing for excessive profits, and why the
price of milk is like a roller coaster within most retail outlets.
My opinion
is that most of us are being abused with the pricing because this is a
necessity we cannot do without.
