Consumer council set to restructure

Business Reporter
THE Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) will have to restructure its operations in light of the establishment of a consumer tribunal where consumer complaints will be heard, an official has said.

CCZ executive director Rosemary Siyachitema, told Business Chronicle that the setting up of the consumer tribunal was contained in the Consumer Protection Draft Bill that Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha launched recently.

“CCZ will have to restructure when the consumer tribunal is established as it will be responsible for hearing consumer complaints. The restructuring of CCZ may also result in the formation of small consumer representative bodies,” she said

At the moment, the consumer council does not have powers to punish unscrupulous businesses that do not adhere to ethical standards and as a result, the consumer watchdog has been labelled a toothless bull dog.

Zimbabwe has never had a consumer protection law as is the case in neighbouring South Africa and it is against this background that a Consumer Protection Bill has been drafted.