The Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) says it is conducting inspection exercise targeting the country`s pharmacies and supermarkets checking prices for goods.

The exercise come in the midst of public outcry over excessive pricing of some goods on the market that people are mostly using due to second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

CFTC Public Relations Officer Innocent Helema says the Commission has decided to come in and conduct both investigation and inspection exercise following increasing reports of skyrocketing of prices of Covid-19 related remedies.

“Initially we conducted inspection lots of in Lilongwe and Blantyre cities last week, and we have issues mandatory investigation against these pharmacy shops which are charging excessive prices.

“Currently, we are also conducting inspections, there are two teams, one is in the northern region and another one is in the southern region doing the same and we also conduct the same in the central and eastern regions,” assured Helema.

He added that after the end of the investigation, the law will take its course against all traders who found to be violating consumer protection laws.

“We are actually trying to find out what exactly is happening whether the traders [pharmacy shops] are violating consumer protection laws in respect of pricing and we will see it the way forward,” added Helema.

People on various social media platforms have been sharing pictures of goods accompanied by price tags showcasing a suspicious rise in price as compared to pre-Covid-19 period.

CFTC is, by the country`s laws, mandated to regulate, monitor, control and prevent acts or behaviour which are likely to harmfully affect competition and fair trading between traders and consumers in Malawi.