TICHAONA KATSVAMUTIMA
The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) has joined hands with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) and the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe to educate consumers on their rights.
It comes at a time when customers have expressed concern over subpar telecommunications services, high prices, and the loss of unused data and airtime.
Consumers feel they are being treated unfairly.
Speaking at a recent awareness roadshow in Kariba, POTRAZ Consumer Affairs Manager, Phibion Chaibva said consumers should report operators who treat them unfairly.
“If you are unfairly treated, discuss with that company. If they fail to deal with your issue then report to POTRAZ, we will help you,” Chaibva said.
Speaking at the same event, Consumer Council of Zimbabwe representative Tapiwa Mombeshora said: “What came up from our interactions with consumers had to do with price displays, which is violation of the right to information when we are talking about consumer protection.”
He said there were also running into situations where there are some “disclaimer clauses here and there in shops, which is also a violation of consumer rights when we are talking about the right to share contractual agreements”.
“It is upon us as consumers nationwide to make sure that we stand up, we come together and speak with one voice as far as making sure that our rights are enforced and make sure that we exercise our rights.”
A representative from the RBZ said the banks’ regulator was working to expose financial misdeeds by companies that profiteer at the expense of unsuspecting consumers.
“Your bank should give you an SMS that you have transacted. If there are some transactions that are happening which you are not sure of, you are supposed to go to the bank for clarifications,” she said.
Consumers who spoke with Business Times lamented the fluctuating exchange rates, particularly on the parallel market.
“Have you failed to remove money changers from the streets?”
Another consumer said: “You no longer find prices on display because of inflation, that shows how the rate is moving.”
