Online Reporter
Your Money, Your Call
Cresencia Marjorie Chiremba
THE case of a househelp who is accusing a local construction firm of fraud — after she paid US$2 800 for a kitchen renovation that never materialised — has ignited a firestorm of public debate.
Social media was set ablaze as netizens weighed in on the plight of the woman, who spent years of hard-earned savings on a dream project that turned into a nightmare.
According to the complainant, she was persuaded to hire the company after seeing glitzy advertisements featuring prominent socialites and brand ambassadors.
The case has sparked debate about the role of celebrity endorsements and whether influencers should be held accountable when companies they promote turn out to be fraudulent. This incident comes less than two years after the collapse of E Creator, a Ponzi scheme that used socialites to attract thousands of investors before being exposed as a pyramid operation.
Victims in that case lost significant amounts of money, while promoters were accused of misleading the public.
Consumer rights advocates argue that the latest case highlights the risks of relying on endorsements without independent verification. They stress that socialites are not merely advertising faces but influential figures whose association with a brand can sway public trust and opinion.
Calls are growing for influencers to conduct due diligence before representing companies and to share liability when consumers suffer losses from misleading promotions.
Zimbabwean law provides some protection for consumers. The Consumer Protection Act (Chapter 14:44) of 2019 established the Consumer Protection Commission and guarantees rights such as fair value, good quality and safety of goods and services, as well as the right to seek redress.
The Consumer Protection (General) Regulations of 2023 further outline procedures for investigating complaints and resolving disputes.
However, the law does not explicitly address the liability of endorsers, leaving a gap where fraudulent companies use socialites to build credibility.
Legal experts note that, while victims can lodge complaints with the Consumer Protection Commission, enforcement remains difficult when companies disappear after taking payments. They argue that extending accountability to endorsers could strengthen consumer protection and discourage careless promotions.
“If someone profits from advertising a company that turns out to be bogus, they should also bear responsibility for the harm caused,” one lawyer said.
The househelp’s case has drawn sympathy online, with many Zimbabweans calling for stronger safeguards against fraudulent schemes.
Consumer groups are urging regulators to tighten oversight of advertising practices and to require influencers to disclose whether they have verified the legitimacy of the companies they promote.
They emphasise that protecting consumers is not only about punishing fraudsters but also about ensuring that those who profit from influence exercise it responsibly.
It has generally been noted that ordinary citizens often trust endorsements because they assume public figures would not risk their reputations by associating with questionable businesses.
When that trust is broken, the consequences are severe, particularly for low-income earners who cannot afford to lose large sums of money.
As investigations into the construction company continue, the incident has reignited debate about the balance between marketing and accountability.
For now, the law offers consumers avenues to seek redress, but the question of whether socialites should share liability remains unresolved. What is clear is that trust, once broken, is costly to restore and ordinary citizens continue to bear the brunt of fraudulent schemes.
The case has become a rallying point for advocates of stronger consumer protection, who insist that both businesses and their endorsers must be held to higher standards of transparency and responsibility.
Cresencia Marjorie Chiremba is a marketing and customer service consultant, customer experience columnist, and sales and service trainer. Contact details: [email protected] or +263712979461, 0719978335, 0772978335, www.customersuccess.co.zw
