The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE importance and prominence of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in todays’ way of life calls for concerted efforts in protecting consumers of the services, POTRAZ director general Dr Kalisto Machengete has said.
Addressing villagers during a consumer and community engagement and outreach programme held yesterday at Beacon Hill in the remote parts of Chipinge District, Dr Machenegete, who was represented by Dr Vengesai Magadzire, Head Consumer Affairs, said: “ICTs have been identified as a key catalyst in achieving Vision 2030 as they are pivotal in fostering social and economic development. This calls for concerted efforts and collaboration in a bid to create an enabling environment for the generality of Zimbabweans we serve. That environment can only be achieved if the consumer is protected. Working together in collaboration allows for effective protection of consumer rights.”
Villagers at Beacon Hill had the opportunity to get expert advice on choice of mobile handsets, consumer rights and responsibilities, mobile financial services, cyber security issues as well as roles of POTRAZ, Consumer Protection Commission, Consumer Council of Zimbabwe as well as the country’s central bank.
Beacon Hill villagers applauded the move by the postal and telecommunications regulatory body in collaboration with the CPC, RBZ and CCZ for engaging and educating them on consumer rights as well as some of the financial systems being used in the country.
The event at Emerald Hill in Chipinge is the third of similar engagements after one held Binga in Matebeleland North this year and the other in Zezani in Matebeleland South held just before Covid-19 pandemic period.
The engagements are targeting remote areas of the country where citizens can easily become victims of consumer abuse or theft during transactions.
