By Daphine Zulu

Consumer protection watchdog, Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) says the upward review of salaries has led to an increase in consumer spending patterns for September 2019.

“Consumer spending patterns have since improved since beginning of month though it is slowly being eroded by continuous price hikes by retailers.

“It is sad to note that some retailers continue hiking prices the minute they learn of salary increases; we therefore urge responsible ministries and authorities to look into this issue because consumers continue facing exploitation from retailers who continue enjoying huge profit margins even when production cost remain the same,” said CCZ Executive Director Rose Siyachitema.

“Consumers also continue suffering from the three-tier pricing system obtaining on the market which is largely to blame for the baseless price hikes,” she said.

She also bemoaned disregard for consumers’ rights by responsible authorities and urged consumer to play an active role in reporting and fighting off exploitation otherwise they continue suffering in silence.

“Consumers continue being short changed by greedy retailers, and the few who used to report their cases have since stopped having lost faith in the system, since nothing is usually done to resolve continuous siphoning of consumer’s monies by retailers.”

On the same vein, Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) president, Denford Mutashu also urged the public to buy from reputable retailers.

“Consumers should desist from buying from backyard retailers, buy from reputable, traceable and professional retailers who have a reputation to protect unlike small unlicensed dealers who overcharge customers as they have nothing to lose,” said Mutashu.