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Nqobile Tshili, Business Correspondent
GOVERNMENT is crafting a Bill to protect consumers from profiteering business entities, Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Ndlovu has said.

The move comes at a time the country has experienced hikes in prices of basic commodities in the past three weeks coupled with hoarding and artificial shortages. Consumers have called for Government’s protection as prices continue to go up while salaries have remained very low.

In an interview, Minister Ndlovu said the proposed Bill was set to be tabled in Parliament before the end of the year.

“As a Ministry we are working on a Consumer Protection Bill. Currently, the reality is we do not have a specific law that is explicit in protecting consumers.
We have various pieces of legislation on human rights issues but a specific law on protecting consumers is not there,” he said.

“And we felt it’s a huge gap in our legislature and we are working on that Bill to be tabled possible before the end of the year. The processes are a bit lengthy.”

Minister Ndlovu did not reveal details on how the legislation would work in protecting citizens. He, however, said some of the immediate measures will be addressed by Cabinet. The issue of price hikes has also seen civil servants demanding to be paid in hard currency claiming that their salaries have already been eroded by the prevailing economic situation.

The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe, which is supposed to be the voice of consumers, has remained mum in the wake of unjustified price hikes characterised by profiteering by some retailers. Consumers in Bulawayo yesterday called for Government’s protection as spiralling prices were making life unbearable for them.

“Prices have gone up by more than 100 percent yet salaries have remained stagnant. Plus we don’t think increasing salaries will be a solution because if salaries increase the prices will go up again,” said Mrs Sithokozile Matshiya from Kingsdale.

“In the past there was the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe, an effective body, but not anymore. We have no one to protect us anymore.”

A pensioner, Mrs Moriah Mpande (71), said life was even more difficult for the aged as they cannot hustle to make ends meet.

“Unlike other people we are facing more challenges because we can’t take on side jobs, which are seemingly done by other people. We rely on the small amounts we get from NSSA and most of just get an average of $80,” she said.

“Just this week, I failed to buy cooking oil and Mazoe as I couldn’t move as swiftly as those who are young.”

A teacher who declined to be named said life had become increasingly difficult for her since she was commuting together with her three children. — @nqotshili