Harare, (New Ziana) -The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) has hailed the move by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) to ban the airing of advertisements promoting prophets, traditional healers, and traditional herbs or medicines that cannot be authenticated.
Last week, BAZ wrote to chief executive officers (CEOs) of the leading broadcasting companies, including the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), ZiFM, Star FM and several other community radio stations across the country, reminding them of their duty to protect consumers from misleading information. BAZ emphasized that the ban was in line with Section 23 (a) & (b) of the Broadcasting Services (Code of Conduct for Broadcasters) Regulations, 2023, as well as Section 27(4)(e) of the Broadcasting Services (Licensing and Content) Regulations, 2004.
The move is aimed at protecting the public from being misled by unverified claims made in advertisements from self-proclaimed prophets, herbalists and traditional healers.
In an interview with New Ziana on Tuesday, Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) corporate communications director, Philemon Chereni said medicinal claims must never be flighted without the approval of the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe.
“As CCZ we welcome and support the bold move taken by the regulatory authority (BAZ) directing broadcasters to stop flighting adverts promoting prophets, traditional healers, medicines that cannot be authenticated, medicinal claims must never be flighted without approval by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe, therefore laws that protect consumers are very clear and should be followed,” said Chereni.
He said according to the Consumer Protection Act Chapter 14:44 Section 26, consumers have a right to disclosure of information regarding goods and services and disclosure of prices.
Section 35 of the CPA provides that consumers have a right to fair, honest dealing and protection from unconscionable conduct. Every consumer has a right to be treated fairly, honestly in any transaction or promotional activity by any supplier, marketer or service provider and be protected from unconscionable conduct.
“The move will come as a relief to consumers who were subjected to misleading, false claims losing a lot of money seeking services and being prescribed false medication that could not be verified, putting consumers’ health at great risk,” said Chereni.
New Ziana
