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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
CONSUMERS here have been urged to avoid impulse buying during the festive season so that they do not end up regretting after falling into financial problems.

In an interview, Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) provincial chairman Mr Jowere Mukusha said consumers should give priority to essential consumer goods.

“Consumers should shop wisely ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations as impulse buying leaves them with unnecessary heartaches,” Mr Mukusha said.

He said consumers should also ensure that they buy goods manufactured by reputable organisations to avoid ending up with poor quality products that may affect their health.

“Consumers should check the expiry date of commodities, especially grocery items when buying,” said Mr Mukusha. “Some unscrupulous retailers short-change consumers by deliberately selling expired products.

“There is also need for consumers to check the authenticity of the label, as there is a danger of buying products from bogus companies that do not concentrate on quality.”

Mr Mukusha urged consumers to exercise their rights when buying through making sure they were satisfied with the products and should report those involved in unfair practices.

“The rights of all consumers should be observed by the retailers and any businessperson,” he said.

“The customer is a king. Businesses should not exploit the customer. It is the business that depends on the consumer not the other way round.

“Those involved in unfair business practices should be reported to us, so that we take corrective measures.”

Mr Mukusha said CCZ received a number of financial related grievances from consumers in the provinces due to the advent of bond notes that were introduced by Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to ease cash shortages in the economy.

“We received a number of complaints over the use of three tier pricing policies by retailers,” he said. “Most retailers, including service stations, were pegging different prices for their products depending on use of cash, EcoCash or bank cards.”

Mr Mukusha said small businesses in the province had challenges accepting plastic money, although major retailers were comfortable with the mode of payment.