Consumer Rights & Responsibilities

1. The right to basic needs
This refers to the right to basic goods and services such as adequate food, health care, sanitation, clothing and health. The right to basic food is synonymous to the right to survive. Consumers of all age groups from infants to the aged should be guaranteed of these basic necessities.

2. and 3. The right to Safety and Healthy environment
The right to safety calls for protection against marketing of products, production processes and services which are hazardous to health or life. Consumers also have the right to live in an environment which is neither threatening nor dangerous and which permits a life of dignity and well being.

4. and 5. The right to information and the right to choose.
The right to be protected against dishonest and misleading advertisements or labelling. The right to be given the facts and information needed to make informative choices. The right to choose products and services at competitive prices with an assurance of satisfaction in quality.

6. and 7 . The right to be heard and to redress
The right to be heard involves the right to be represented so that consumer’s interests receive full and sympathetic consideration in the formulation and execution of social and economic polices. The right to redress entails the right to be compensated for misrepresentation, shoddy goods and unsatisfactory services .

8. The right to consumer education
The right to consumer education entails the right to acquire knowledge and so as to be an informed consumer in life.
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Consumer Responsibilities

For a member of the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe to fully serve himself/herself and the community, he/she has to accept the accompanying responsibilities in establishing a conducive environment to fair trade. Consumers have responsibilities to meet and these are :

1. Critical Awareness
This refers to the responsibility of being inquisitive and questioning about the availability, price and quality of goods and services we use. Consumption decisions should not be self centred, but rational and sensible.

2. Action
The responsibility to assert ourselves act to ensure that we get a fair deal in the market place. As long as we remain passive consumers, we will continue to be exploited.

3. Environmental Awareness
This refers to the responsibility to understand the environmental consequences of our consumption and actions. We should recognise our individual and social responsibility to conserve natural resources and protect the earth for future generations.

4. Social Concern
This is the responsibility to be aware of the impact of our consumption on other citizens, especially disadvantaged and powerless groups whether in local , regional, international.

5. Solidarity
This means the responsibility of the consumer to organise themselves into powerful groups and develop the strength and influence to protect and promote their interests.

Source http://www.ccz.org.zw/rights/index.php