adminwill promote a fair, accessible and sustainable marketplace for consumers in terms of products and services.
CCZ national chairman Mr Phillip Bvumbe said it is important to have this law put in place to ensure a fair deal on the market place.
“CCZ has a big challenge in that it operates in an environment that has no consumer protection law. It is taking a long time to get the law in place.
“It is vital for the Sadc members to come up with consumer protection laws which will help prohibit certain unfair marketing and business practices,” he said. He was speaking during a workshop on consumer rights that was attended by officials from the South African National Consumer Commission in Harare on Wednesday, He added that there was need for resource mobilisation in order to ensure a quicker process in coming up with the consumer protection law.
“CCZ is funded by the Government through the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, unfortunately the resources are very minimal and the organisation has to constantly look for funds from well-wishers,” said Mr Bvumbe.
He said this amid calls by the CCZ and SANCC to create networking platforms for Sadc members to share experience on how to elevate the status of consumer protection.
SANCC commissioner Ms Mamodupi Mohlala said Sadc members should share common principles for consumer protection and must have a homogeneous voice.
“There should be a legislative alignment for the region whereby consumers across the region should be protected with a uniform law.
“Under the Sadc auspices there should be a direct encouragement where those countries without the legislation will be able to come up with that,” she said.
Plans are currently underway to form a consumer Sadc committee that will push for protection of consumers within the region. The South African Consumer Protection Act No. 68 of 2008 came into effect on April 1, 2011.
The policy principles of the CPA include equity and accessibility, market integrity and transparency, consumer safety, economic sustainability, regulatory and institutional efficiency and empowerment of consumer and civil society.
The CCZ managed to lobby for certain acts which are now in place and these include Small Claims Court Act, 1992; Consumer Contract Act, 1994; Patients Charter, 1986; Competition Act, 1996; and class Action Act, Chapter 8:17.
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