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Conrad Mwanawashe Business Reporter
Online service providers will come under scrutiny as Government’s Consumer Protection Bill will be extended to cover e-services. Until now, consumers were exposed to the wrath of the predatory market, including online service providers that do not hesitate to flout consumer rights, Industry and Commerce Minister Michael Bimha said yesterday. He was launching the consultative workshops on the Consumer Protection Bill which are set to kick off soon.
Once promulgated into law, the Consumer Protection Act will allow the formation of consumer associations that deal with specific issues across all sectors and establish a fund for national consumer organisations’ operations.
“Since the attainment of independence in 1980, we have not had a comprehensive Consumer Protection Act. Instead in its place we have pieces of legislation which are being implemented through line ministries to protect and advance the interest of consumers,” Minister Bimha said.
“All these pieces protect consumers to a certain degree. They, however, fall short of providing the cover of protection that aims at protecting consumers’ rights from violation. In this regard consumers are being exposed to the wrath of the predatory market which does not hesitate to flout consumer rights,” said Minister Bimha.
Eight regional consultative workshops will be held during the next three to four months which will culminate in an all stakeholders’ consultative forum.
The input from the consultative forums will be collated and submitted to the Industry and Commerce Minister, who will pass the input to the Attorney General’s office for consideration.
A Consumer Court and a Consumer Protection Commission will be established once the new law is passed.
CCZ national chairman, Mr Phillip Bvumbe, said what is paramount is that the new law will result in the establishment of a Consumer Court specifically to deal with the area of enforcement which was lacking in the previous legislation.
The Consumer Protection Commission’s functions will 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.
It seeks to improve consumer awareness and information and encourage responsible and informed consumer choice and behaviour; to promote consumer confidence, empowerment and the development of culture of consumer responsibility through individual and group education, vigilant advocacy and activism; to provide for a consistent, accessible and efficient system of resolution of disputes arising from consumer transaction.
The Consumer Court shall be a special court for the purpose of enforcing rights and serve as a court of record.
CCZ executive director Ms Rosemary Siyachitema said consumer organisations from South Africa and the Consumers International office will participate in the process.
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