By YVONNE CHATE –

THE Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has resolved more than 800 consumer rights violation cases for 2014.
CCPC public relations officer Hanford Chaaba said a total of 827 cases had been resolved regarding the violation of the rights of customers.
Mr Chaaba said this in an interview in Ndola yesterday where the CCPC is participating at this year’s Zambia International Trade Fair (ZITF).
He said the major complaints handled concerned electrical items, which members of the public were enraged with.
Mr Chaaba said sensitising consumers on their rights had resulted in increased reported cases of consumer rights violations.
“Due to increased awareness on the rights of consumers, there has been an increase in reported cases of violation, in 2014 CCPC investigated and resolved 827 cases of consumer rights violation,” he said.
The complaints raised by the consumers contravened regulations that prohibited the supply of defective goods and unsuitable services.
Mr Chaaba said the commission had set up offices in all provincial headquarters to ensure people were sensitized on their rights and ensure any violation could easily be reported to the Commission.
He said companies that were found to abrogate the law, were fined 10 per cent of their annual turn-over.
He implored consumers to be aware of their rights and know how they could seek redress as they interacted with various suppliers.
“Consumers in their daily activities are faced with a number of challenges, they need to know their rights and know where to report consumer violation cases,” Mr Chaaba said.