Public input for Consumer Protection Policy
THE Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) has called on the public to play a pivotal role and ensure their views are incorporated in the draft Consumer Protection Policy document that is being developed.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce is developing the Consumer Protection Policy which will augment the Consumer Protection Act. Speaking at a provincial stakeholder consultation and awareness meeting on the Consumer Protection Policy and Legislation in Bulawayo on Friday, CPC chairman Dr Mthokozisi Tafadzwa Nkosi said for the policy to be a successful, members of the public, as consumers have an active role to play.
“We started this exercise about a month ago, to ask stakeholders what they want to see in the policy. The consultation meetings will play a pivotal role in ensuring that stakeholder views are incorporated in the draft Consumer Protection Policy document,” said Mr Nkosi.
The stakeholder consultation is running concurrently with a consumer education awareness campaign meant to educate the public and help them develop critical thinking, thereby enabling consumers to become more pro-active. He said the draft policy, was being developed for the purposes of safeguarding consumers against unfair practices in the market place.
Mr Nkosi said the policy sought to protect consumers from businesses that engage in unfair practices which include inter alia, multitier pricing, fraudulent offers, failure to label products properly and disclosure of personal information to third parties.
“It encourages businesses to engage in fair and ethical business practice by emphasising adherence to consumer rights. The overall objective of the policy is to increase the Consumer Protection Index from the current 25 percent to 60 percent by 2030.”
Mr Nkosi said as a commission their mandate was to protect the consumers, regulate the accreditation of consumer protection organisations, conduct alternative dispute resolution, and promote consumer awareness in collaboration with the requisite line Ministries, Government departments, institutions and advocacy groups. He said their strategic goals were to educate and promote the public on consumer rights and protection and to promote vigilance on deceitful and unconscionable or unfair acts by service providers.