John Kapito has sent a blunt message to those waiting for him to leave the Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA), saying retirement is nowhere on his immediate plans.
The veteran consumer rights campaigner, who founded CAMA in 1995 and has led the organisation since 2014, says he remains driven by passion for consumer advocacy rather than personal benefits.
He left CAMA in 2004 to join the Malawi Human Rights Commission before returning in 2014, when the consumer rights body had closed due to financial challenges.
Since his return, Kapito has remained a prominent voice on issues affecting consumers, frequently speaking out on consumer protection, prices and the provision of essential services.
His long tenure at the helm of CAMA has, however, raised questions over when he intends to step down and give other people an opportunity to lead the organisation.
But speaking in an interview with the local media, Kapito said he is not considering retirement, stressing that his work is driven by passion rather than financial or personal gains.
“I am not retiring soon. I do this because of passion, not because of benefits or gains,” Kapito said.
According to CAMA, the association has played a role in the formulation of laws aimed at protecting consumers and contributed to the establishment of the Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC).
Kapito said the establishment of institutions such as the CFTC demonstrates the lasting impact of CAMA’s work, arguing that the commission continues to carry out some of the functions the association has championed over the years.
He said CAMA’s influence would remain even if the association stopped operating, as some of the laws and institutions established through its advocacy would continue to protect consumers.
