Eighteen (18) retail outlets were last year fined for selling expired goods in contravention of the Consumer Protection Act, with one of the shops fined US$3 000 by the High Court for selling baby products that expired in 2015.
Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) research and public affairs manager Kudakwashe Mudereri told State media that they launched an operation targeting shops selling expired and substandard products between April and December 2023.
Mudereri cited retailers Food World, Gains Cash and Carry and Bismilar Investment as the major culprits. He said:
<blockquote>
In line with the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, which requires the commission to enforce consumer rights through its inspectors, compliance officers and investigators have been carrying out enforcement blitzes throughout the country, working with other law enforcement agents and other key stakeholders.
From April to December 2023, the Consumer Protection Commission prosecuted 18 companies for selling expired products.
What is more worrying to the commission is that one of the shops caught and prosecuted for selling expired products was selling baby products, which expired as far as 2015, thereby destroying the future of the country.
Given the severity of the case, the shop was prosecuted at the High Court and made to pay a fine of US$3 000.
</blockquote>
Section 10 of the Consumer Protection Act prohibits suppliers from selling or marketing goods that do not conform to mandatory safety and quality standards.
Mudereri said consumers have the right to health and safety as prescribed by the Consumer Protection Act and can return goods to the supplier if the goods are not safe or have defects.
He also said that Section 42 of the Consumer Protection Act outlawed “disclaimer clauses” by prohibiting suppliers from displaying notices that purport to disclaim any liability including “No Refund, No Returns and No Exchanges”. Added Mudereri:
<blockquote>
Furthermore, Section 51 (1a) and (2) require suppliers of goods and services to take necessary and appropriate measures to provide fair value, good quality and safe products to consumers.
It is in this spirit that suppliers are prohibited from selling expired products, where any supplier or trader who contravenes this legal requirement shall be guilty of an offence and liable for prosecution
</blockquote>
The Consumer Protection Act is designed to protect the rights of consumers and regulate business practices to ensure fair and ethical treatment.
The law empowers consumers to seek compensation for damages or losses resulting from unfair business practices.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Shop Fined US$3 000 For Selling Baby Products That Expired In 2015

The Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) said that more than 400 retailers have been prosecuted, while 100 others have been issued with compliance notices over the past two months for breaking the law in their dealings with consumers.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/400-retailers-sanctioned">State medi</a>a, CPC research and public affairs manager Kudakwashe Mudereri revealed that some of the culprits are telecommunications companies.
The companies have been accused of engaging in the sale of expired products, non-compliance with product labelling regulations and failure to display prices on goods, among other violations.
Mudereri warned retailers who persistently cheat and default on their obligations that they will have their licences revoked. He said:
<blockquote>
So far, over 3 000 inspections have been done. Out of that, over 100 have been issued with compliance notices and over 400 have been successfully prosecuted and over 200 cases have been successfully investigated.
Over 98 per cent of the investigations have resulted in consumers being given their refund or an exchange of the faulty product or good.
Some have even been given their mobile phones back by telecom companies after our interventions.
</blockquote>
Mudereri said the most prevalent violations included displaying disclaimer notices such as “No returns”, “No refunds” and “No exchange” and selling expired products.
The other violations include failure to give a warranty on products; failure to display prices for goods and services; failure to provide product labelling; and failure to issue receipts to customers.
CPC has carried out successful inspections in Harare and Bulawayo and has now turned its attention to all small towns across the country. Added Mudereri:
<blockquote>
Following the arrests that were made in Harare, Bindura and Chinhoyi, the commission also made some arrests in Manicaland, where over 60 businesses were made to pay fines for violating provisions of the Consumer Protection Act.
In addition, the commission did 291 inspections in Masvingo, and 33 businesses were issued with compliance notices and 88 were prosecuted.
</blockquote>
The Consumer Protection Act (Chapter 14:44) confers rights to consumers. Some key features and provisions of the Consumer Protection Act are consumer rights, prohibition of unfair practices, product liabilities and safety, consumer contracts, consumer education and awareness, and dispute resolution.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

400 Retailers Prosecuted For "Cheating" Customers

The government has appointed a seven-member Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) following the recent gazetting of the Consumer Protection Act of 2019.
The CPC’s mandate is to protect consumers and regulate the accreditation of consumer protection advocacy groups among other functions.
The new appointments were announced by Industry and Commerce Minister, Sekai Nzenza in her latest press statement.
The CPC will be chaired by Dr Mthokozisi Nkosi. The other members are Rosemary Mpofu, Nomazulu Donga, Davison Gomo, Ethel Hlabangana, Rainess Chadoka and Respina Zinyanduko.
Minister Nzenza announced that the appointments were done with the concurrence of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, in terms of the Public Entities and Corporate Governance Act (Chapter 10:31) effective 11 March 2021. She said:
<blockquote>The Commission shall operate as an implementation mechanism of the Consumer Protection Act in line with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce’s mandate.
Pursuant to that, the Commission is mandated to protect the consumers, regulate the accreditation of consumer protection advocacy groups, conduct alternative dispute resolution, and promote consumer awareness in collaboration with the requisite line ministries, Government departments, institutions and advocacy groups.</blockquote>
In the past, consumer interests were represented by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) which was regarded as a toothless dog as it did not have any powers to bring businesses to account.
Under the provisions of the new law, businesspeople that engage in unfair practices that include multi-tier pricing, fraudulent offers, failure to label products properly and the disclosure of consumers’ personal information to third parties will be liable for prosecution.
Consumers are now entitled to be fully refunded for sub-standard goods and can individually approach the courts for redress or refer their complaints to the Consumer Protection Commission set up in the new Act.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/just-in-government-appoints-consumer-protection-commissioners/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Chronicle</a></h4>

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