Upholding consumer interests
environment of the future?
E-commerce has taken Zimbabweans by storm; many people now transact using their mobile phones, computers and ATM cards. It is easier and faster for consumers to do their purchases online. However, despite many advantages that e-commerce has, consumers still face challenges in terms of: Access Cost Safety and Security Laws and Regulators The CCZ, thus, continues to call for legislation that not only encourages but demands, at the risk of prosecution, ethical standards in the handling of transactions and interaction within the digital space. These standards include the elimination of bias against rural communities in accessing digital platforms and the elimination of the culture of profiteering by service providers on the strength of the consumers’ reliance on the digital platforms in currency.
The CCZ, further, firmly supports the regulation of cyberspace, in more specific terms, in order to ensure that consumer interests are protected. These interests include, but are not limited to:
The protection of consumer privacy: monetary loss and security risks often accompany the failure of digital players to administer good protection mechanisms,
The development of better verification methods that make it difficult for consumer’s digital identity access protocols to be compromised,
The institution of expeditious redress mechanisms on defaulting service providers particularly those who falsely advertise their ability to deliver services,
The compensation of consumers for prejudices suffered due to unexplained and often unreasonable delays in service delivery. Legitimate consumer expectations need to be protected against poor service delivery.
The provision of access to records of digital exchanges in hard-copy upon request, particularly after transacting on mobile payment system accounts. This goes to the crucial consumer right to information,
The distribution of digital platforms and services across the spectrum as neglecting provision of such to rural areas constitutes an unacceptable exclusion from participation that is not only unethical but often disruptive to the integrated consumer experience of people.
The regulation of unsolicited and aggressive advertising in the form of automated communication, for example, that wastes consumers’ time and disturbs their lives.
The CCZ continues to engage service providers, consumers and regulatory bodies in order to achieve a sustainable environment of transacting for the consumer. It is in view of the challenges highlighted above that the CCZ has organised the interaction of all the relevant stakeholders to a Symposium to be held today (March 15) to further the dialogue of creating a digital world that consumers can trust and have confidence in.
In the interests of engaging with the challenges and opportunities of the digital world in the context of consumer interaction, the CCZ has planned and will host an important symposium in Harare. This gathering will see key stakeholders delve into the issues highlighted above with the purpose of helping chart a way forward that is consumer-sensitive.
The purpose of the symposium is to highlight the urgent need for consumer protection in the fast changing world of technology, unpack the implications of a cashless society to the ordinary Zimbabwean, the risk of cyber-crime for consumers as victims or unwittingly perpetrators and seek and achieve clarity on the legislative and regulatory framework and provisions for mobile banking payment services (MBPS).
Inordertoachievetheabove,theCCZhasinvitedstakeholders from a wide spectrum and these include representatives of consumers, specialised regulatory authorities, and digital platform operators as well as legislative representatives and relevant ministry representatives. In particular, the Ministry of Information Communication Technology and Cyber Security, Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz), Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), Econet Wireless, Telecel Zimbabwe, Telone, NetOne and members of the media fraternity are due to engage on the issues in what will be an open and sincere discussion.
The CCZ is keen to include consumers in this important interaction as part of the WCRD celebrations and is deferring to the digital world as a means of achieving the broadest consumer participation possible. In the first instance, the CCZ is inviting consumers to field their concerns and questions regarding consumer safety in the digital world through various digital platforms: Telephone: - (04) 498 441 / (04) 496479 Facebook page: The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe In addition, consumers are encouraged to log on to the CCZ Facebook page on the day, for updates, photos, videos and summaries of proceedings. A dedicated team from CCZ will be on site and endeavour to bring you into the proceedings with periodic Facebook Live reflections from participants at the venue. The issues at play are of importance to you the consumer and so be a part of this event, which serves as an important landmark of record for the discourse on digital rights going forward.
CCZ Contact Details. Head Office. 35 Rhodesville Road, Eastlea, Harare. Tel. (04) 498 441 / (04) 496479.