Potraz brings consumer rights to Jerera

Sydney Mubaiwa in Zaka
The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe has embarked on a public awareness programme to educate consumers about their rights. The organisation has also partnered radio stations to popularise the campaigns. Speaking at one of the campaigns held at Jerera on Saturday morning, Potraz executive officer (Research) Mr Phibion Chaibva said the organisation’s mandate was to inform and educate the public about their rights.

As Potraz, the Government has mandated us to inform and educate subscribers and the general public at large on consumer rights.

“Our hope as an organisation is to make sure that all our clients understand their rights at the end,” he said.

Mr Chaibva said the authority wanted to ensure that mobile service providers abide by the regulations and observe their rights as well.

He said they had come up with contingent measures to deal with errant operators who flout or violate regulations including trampling on consumer rights.

He encouraged aggrieved subscribers to raise their complaints directly with the respective mobile service operator, prior to seeking Potraz’s intervention.

“We want to educate all consumers on their rights concerning accurate or proper charges and quality service they should expect from different service providers.

“In addition, we encourage consumers to report all acts of vandalism on property and abuse of Internet to the police,” he said.

According to Mr Chaibva, the consumers would also be educated on issues around conserving the environment, which include friendly ways of disposing air time recharge cards in litter bins.

He said as a way of promoting the Government’s initiative on ease of doing business, they (Potraz) would ensure that service providers enhance connectivity and quality services.

Mr Chaibva said the organisation was in the midst of opening up more community information centre countrywide.

“Through the provision of an information kiosks, people especially farmers may easily research on crop and livestock diseases outbreaks, while schoolchildren may use them for academic researches,” he said.

Zaka Central Member of Parliament Cde Paradzai Chakona who is a member of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on ICT commended Potraz for conducting the consumer awareness campaigns.

Zaka is made up of farmers, primary and secondary schools, clinics and hospitals, and these people need to know the importance of the Internet and their rights as well.

“Now with the provision of internet services, farmers can research about weather forecast and the types of crops to be grown and market links,” said Cde Chakona.