The Importance of Product Certification

Product certification, by definition, denotes the process through which a product is subjected to in order to verify that it has passed quality and performance tests. It means the item complies with all requirements designated for such a product. Product certification indicates a product’s suitability to be distributed to the masses safely, guaranteeing that whatever’s in the labels are real. It also means that the merchandises is distributed and sold fairly between the producers, consumers and middlemen.
Standards and requirements depend on what kind of product is dealt with and the factors surrounding its use and production. Organic produce, for example, aside from sanitary requirements, have elective requirements for fair trade certification. IT applications and software, on the other hand, strictly need to comply with requirements implemented by certain government authorities.
Product certification assures that the product is suited for distribution and public consumption. It also assures that producers, especially those from developing countries, are given a fair share of the sale of their products. There have been cases of middlemen earning big cuts from products sourced from developing countries for low prices and then sold in the US for 10 times more.
As a producer, your willingness to accept and act on your responsibility and obligation to have your product/s undergo product certification equates to your regard for the integrity and value of your company. It signifies your desire to improve your profit fairly and honestly without taking advantage of your suppliers or your eventual consumers.
Consumers for their part must be constantly on guard when it comes to purchasing goods for their and their family’s consumption. Buying only products that have undergone product certification shows concern not only for the welfare of you and your family, but also the perpetuation quality goods and services through mandatory certification.
Product certification allows consumers to purchase quality goods for the right price. It also compels producers to provide the best quality at all times. Product certification, therefore, raises the overall bar for goods and services in the market. It promotes good production practices from those in the manufacturing industry while rewarding the efforts of the smart consumer.

Mnangagwa is a small boy – Tsvangirai

Main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has ridiculed Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa describing him as a “small boy” who does not have the political clout to challenge for the presidency when elections are due in 2018.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader was addressing a “No reforms No Elections” rally in the Harare suburb of Kumbuzuma.
“I told Mnangagwa one word that I don’t compete with you. 1st division does not compete with 4th division,” the MDC leader was quoted saying.
“If (the 2018) elections come with Mnangagwa as President, I will give him (former Kwekwe Central MP Blessing) Chebundo.
“I beat (President Robert) Mugabe and then Mnangagwa, please let’s be fair. Chebundo trounced Mnangagwa in two successive elections for the Kwekwe Central seat before the latter relocated to Zibagwe-Chirumanzu constituency
During a rally on Saturday Mnangagwa bragged that that God was allegedly on Zanu PF’s side.
“Let me tell you this, God loves Zanu PF,” he said. “God gave us countries and we were given Zimbabwe.
“When we had won our independence, the British funded the MDC to remove us from power.
“In 2008, they almost removed us from power but God refused and said no,” Mnangagwa told party supporters in Harare’s Dzivaresekwa high density suburb.
“God intervened and we are still ruling. Look now we are going to win by-elections. God indeed loves Zanu PF.”

Biti-No pity for shamed Chinamasa

FORMER finance minister Tendai Biti says he doesn't pity his successor, Patrick Chinamasa's predicament because his Zanu PF party is responsible for the suffering of millions of Zimbabweans.
Biti, then secretary general of the MDC-T, was finance minister during the Government of National Unity (GNU) when the economy enjoyed sustained growth which has fizzled out under Zanu PF’s sole charge.
Chinamasa is struggling to find money for government operations. He tried to suspend civil servants bonuses until 2017 saying there was no money only to be publicly rebuked and overruled by President Robert Mugabe.
Speaking at an Africa Day round table discussion on Monday organised by Bulawayo Agenda, Biti said Zanu PF was clueless about solving the country's economic problems.
"I don't feel pity for him (Chinamasa); I don't feel pity for a group of people who actually spend every day planning how to make the African suffer more,” he said.
“You will hear a politburo meeting lasted 12 hours; Mugabe went home to sleep at 3am, discussing no development, no jobs but how do we fire that gamatox.
"Zanu PF must be held to account for the crimes against humanity they have committed against the people of Zimbabwe."
Since taking over as finance minister, Chinamasa has had the unenviable task to leading efforts revive a failing economy with little success to date.
The minister has had to fend off vicious attacks from civil servants who have seen their pay dates shifted almost every month due to the country's dry coffers.
In an unprecedented move that earned him a public tongue lashing from his boss, Chinamasa suspended civil servants bonuses before Mugabe ordered that they be reinstated.
Quizzed on what he would have done differently if he was still in charge of the public purse, Biti said it was important for someone in that position to instil hope in the citizens.
"This government doesn't talk to us, this government puts a Dura wall to us,” he said.
“One thing we are most afraid of in this country is the government and you can't develop as a country if people are afraid of its government.
“It should be the other way round, the government should be afraid of the people, because they are the bosses and they can fire you in an election"
The MDC Renewal secretary general accused the ruling Zanu PF party of being clueless about how to run the economy.
He said there was need to reform the public sector and cut down on the number of people employed by the state.
"How can an economy as small as ours have 550,000 civil servants and 92 percent of government expenditure is going to wages, leaving 8 percent going to hospitals and education.
“Reduce the wage bill to 30 percent of your revenue and to less than 12 percent of your GDP," said Biti.
He urged the government to deal with the banking sector, saying it was absurd that there were no savings in the country.
"For a country to develop it needs savings that are at least 25 percent to 30 percent of GDP," said Biti.
He also pointed out that foreign direct investment was a key component in the revival of the country's economy.