Member activity

Southern Africa: marches, workshops and government recognition mark WCRD

08 May 2012

CI members in Zambia and Botswana report back on action for World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) 2012.

WCRD in Zambia

CI member organisation Zambia Consumer Association managed to secure WCRD as a permanent agenda item for government business within the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry as part of their activities to mark the day.

This means that even though the budget may not be sufficient, WCRD will always be celebrated in Zambia as a national programme with scope to expand its budget and activities.

The Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry in Zambia challenged the financial sector to improve services to consumers in his address to the nation on the evening of 14 March 2012, launching WCRD in the country.

Marches took place in three cities to mark the day: Kitwe, Lusaka and Livingstone. In each, government officials urged consumers to fully exercise their rights to choose by switching banks where service providers have failed to meet their expectations.

Read a full WCRD report from Zambia (pdf)…

WCRD in Botswana

"Consumers should be vigilant when interacting with financial service providers. And, they should exercise their right to choose," said Botswana's Minister of Trade and Industry, Honourable Dorcus Malesu during WCRD celebrations this year.

Botswana Consumer Center for Advocacy, Research and Orientation (BCCARO), the umbrella organisation for 22 consumer groups in the country, organised a workshop on the day to raise awareness among consumers on financial literacy when dealing with financial institutions.

Consumers appreciated the knowledge and information sharing they got as a result of the workshop and requested that regular workshops be held.

Read a full WCRD report from Botswana (pdf)...