CONSUMER PROTECTION IN ZIMBABWE Presentation by

Transcript:CONSUMER PROTECTION IN ZIMBABWE Presentation by:
CONSUMER PROTECTION IN ZIMBABWE Presentation by Miss R. Siyachitema Executive Director of the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe The formation of the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe can be traced as far back as 1955 and was spurred by economic problems resulting from increased costs of living and violation of manufacturing standards. The formation was spearheaded by two prominent Women’s organizations, which had active interest in consumer issues, and these were the National Women’s Organizations (NWO) and the Federation of Women’s Institutes (FWI). The then Salisbury consumer movement group was aimed at ensuring that consumers would not only get value for their money, but that primary producers and manufacturers produced items of high standards which could compete with imported processed foods and manufactured goods. It is against this background that the CCZ was born in the structure we know today on the 5th of December 1975, registered as a welfare organization in terms of subsection (5) of section 9 of the Welfare Organizations Act (Chapter 93) and its registration number is W.O. 9/85. CCZ HISTORICAL BACKGROUND VISION As Consumer Council of Zimbabwe we shall always strive for a ‘fair deal’ for our consumers within the market place. MISSION Consumer Council of Zimbabwe strives to become a visible and highly effective consumer empowerment and protection organisation in the country that unconditionally upholds the interests of all its stakeholders through the establishment and management of effective networks with fellow consumer organisations worldwide, and through the management of a competent and well-motivated staff. VISION & MISSION STATEMENT The CCZ has successfully clamoured for the enactment of legislation such as: Consumer Contract Act Competition Act Class Action Act Small Claims Court Act Patients Charter National Incomes and Pricing Commission Act (2007) Currently, CCZ is in the forefront of pushing for the Zimbabwe Consumer Protection Act. LEGISLATION “Consumers by definition, include us all,” Kennedy said in his congregational statement, ‘they are the largest economic group affecting and affected by almost every public and private economic decision. Yet they are the only important group.....whose views are often not heard’. Over time, the consumer movement has developed this vision into a set of eight basic consumer rights that now define and inspire much of the work CCZ do. Who is a consumer? What we do We work with our members and partners globally, to empower and champion the rights of consumers, and ensure they are treated safely, fairly and