Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ), joined consumer organisations worldwide in commemorating the 2006 World Consumer Rights Day in March. The year 2006 marked the 24 th edition of this important day. The celebrations coincidentally had a theme, “Energy: Sustainable Access for all” which touches on a pertinent issue in Zimbabwe today .
Many consumers are currently in a limbo on what befalls them in 2007, following the announcement of possible electricity shortages in he Southern African region. What worries consumer most is the fact that they are currently experiencing constant power outages thus raising alarm on what the 2007 situation would be like. Consumers are concerned about the electricity situation and the alternative energy sources at their disposal.
CCZ hosted a stakeholders’ workshop based on the theme, marking the country’s celebration of World Consumer Rights Day. Participants were drawn all sectors of the energy industry, with representatives coming from government ministries, independent bodies like the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), Zimbabwe Electricity Regulatory Commission (ZERC), Scientific Industrial Research and Development Corporation (SIRDC) among others.
The workshop addressed issues haunting consumers with regards to energy and paved way for dialogue between consumers and the energy service providers. It surfaced from the discussions that the power shortages were not going to be unique to Zimbabwe only but were being experienced worldwide. Currently because of the conflict in areas rich in energy resources the costs of energy have been pushed up thus making accessibility difficult as it may be beyond the reach of the ordinary consumer.
Energy has been recognised as a fundamental and important resource for the welfare of the public. To date the majority of the rural population who also happen to the largest component of the country’s population, do not have access to electricity (worldwide nearly two billion consumers have no access to electricity). Access to energy resources has not been sustainable thereby worsening their plight.
It was noted that consumers misuse around 25% of the 30% of the imported electrical energy a situation which depicts lack of education on efficient use of energy and conserving mechanisms.
Consumers International and its members around the world lobbied national governments and G8 ministers in the run up to 15 March, to get recent declarations about the future of energy turned into action. Governments have been called step up their efforts to work together with consumers to develop comprehensive sustainable energy plans which remain within the limits of consumer affordability - sustainable access.
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