×
NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

Potraz moves to protect consumers

Telecommunications
ZIMBABWE’S telecommunications regulator has plans to introduce new measures to protect consumers against unfair practices by players as competition in the country’s resilient sectors intensifies.

ZIMBABWE’S telecommunications regulator has plans to introduce new measures to protect consumers against unfair practices by players as competition in the country’s resilient sectors intensifies.

Business Reporter

The Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) yesterday announced that it had crafted Consumer Protection Guidelines which now await public endorsement before the regulator adopts them.

The guidelines, according to Potraz, seek to promote the interest of consumers, purchasers and other users in respect of the quality and variety of postal and telecommunication services in line with the Postal and Telecommunications Act, and come barely a month after a dispute between Telecel Zimbabwe and Econet .

“Potraz will monitor and may introduce a regulation where it considers that service providers are using unfair trade practices,” read the document in part.

Potraz said unfair trade practices included conduct that was misleading and deceptive or likely to mislead or deceive consumers through false or deceptive advertising as well as giving false or deceptive information.

The regulator has also classified use of aggressive sales techniques that harass consumers or lead them to make decisions that they would not have made under other circumstances as an unfair practice.

The draft, to be used for upcoming consultative meetings, also outlines that the service providers should make available educational material for consumers which informs them of any relevant protection or control mechanisms for their service which can be used to protect children.

Potraz said service providers should issue bills which are clear and establish verifiable charges in a format that can be easily understood and complete so that consumers can confirm or challenge the billing information.

“All tariffs charged by service providers should be approved by the authority in accordance with section 100 of the Act,” the telecoms regulator said.

However, Potraz said it would work with both government and non –governmental organisations to provide public education and awareness programmes to improve consumer protection in line with technological developments and consumer preferences.