via CCZ to conclude consultations on Consumer Protection Bill | The Herald January 14, 2015
THE Consumer Council of Zimbabwe expects to conclude public consultations on the Consumer Protection Bill by next month after teams were dispatched to three provinces for consultations this week. CCZ teams are in Masvingo, Mutare and Mutoko while a meeting with the portfolio committee on Industry and Commerce has been scheduled for later this month.
Attendance and contributions by members of the public has been encouraging, according to CCZ chairman Mr Phillip Bvumbe.
The consultations are meant to solicit for public input into the new law.
“We’ve pushed a great deal. There’s enthusiasm from the public who view the new law as a mechanism to bring equity in the market place,” said Mr Bvumbe.
The new law will result in consumers being empowered by the establishment of a Consumer Court and a Consumer Protection Commission.
The public consultative workshops on the long-awaited piece of legislation started on November 18 last year in Bulawayo, followed by Gwanda on November 20, Gweru on November 26, Chiwundura on November 27 and in Mutoko on December 16.
From December 3-12, the CCZ conducted board technical committees and other stakeholder meetings.
The stakeholder consultations will culminate in a National Consultative Workshop scheduled for February 18.
“Our teams are currently working on the technical issues on the Bill.
“We have received some recommendations from other stakeholders which we will incorporate into the final document,” said Mr Bvumbe.
The Consumer Protection Bill will result in the establishment of a Consumer Court specifically to deal with the area of enforcement which was lacking in the previous legislation. It shall be a special court for the purpose of enforcing rights and serve as a court of record.
The new law seeks to promote a fair, efficient and transparent marketplace for consumers and business, to promote consumer rights to basic needs (food, shelter, health, education and clothing), to provide for improved standards of consumer information, to prohibit unfair competition, marketing and business practices, to promote responsible consumer behaviour, to provide relief to parties to consumer contracts where the contracts are unfair or contain unfair provisions or where the exercise or non-exercise of a power, right or discretion under such a contract is or would be unfair; to repeal the Consumer Contracts Act (Chapter 8:03), and to provide for matters incidental to or connected with the foregoing.
It seeks to establish the Consumer Protection Commission whose functions include; to co-ordinate and network consumer activities; to promote fair business practices and protect consumers from unreasonable, unjust otherwise improper trade practices, deceptive, misleading, unfair and fraudulent conduct.
The Consumer Court will be chaired by a senior president, who could either be a former judge or any person who qualifies to be a judge.
The senior president and other presidents of the Consumer Court will be appointed by President Mugabe in liaison with the Judicial Services Commission.
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