News / National
Businesses abusing clients through plastic money payments-Chief Charumbira
23 May 2016 at 07:17hrs | Views
Senator Chief Fortune Charumbira has claimed that business people were abusing their clients who want to buy using plastic money by demanding the purchase of goods worth half of the money which is reflected on the account.
Speaking during parliament session, Charumbira asked Public Service, Labour and Social services minister Priscilla Mupfumira if there was any consideration of a further policy measures in view of the fact that the plastic money she spoke about was being abused by some business people.
"When they see that the pensioner cannot withdraw money from the bank, they can use that plastic money to buy from the till. They would say you can buy on condition that you buy goods worth half of your monthly pension and we would give you change in cash. So, if you earn $200, they would say buy goods worth US$100, then we will give you change in cash. They force you to use half of your monthly pension into groceries which you do not need. Is there any policy to protect pensioners?" he asked.
Mupfumira said obviously it is illegal for any conditional selling.
"If it is brought to the authorities' attention, it will be dealt with accordingly and the relevant Ministry should be advised. The plastic money I was talking about is like your visa cards and so forth because we are moving away, like everywhere else in the world, from using cash or transporting cash and we are saying we need to get everybody on board, including people in rural areas to be able to have that plastic similar to a visa card. But that which you are talking about is abuse and should be reported to the relevant authorities," she said.
Speaking during parliament session, Charumbira asked Public Service, Labour and Social services minister Priscilla Mupfumira if there was any consideration of a further policy measures in view of the fact that the plastic money she spoke about was being abused by some business people.
"When they see that the pensioner cannot withdraw money from the bank, they can use that plastic money to buy from the till. They would say you can buy on condition that you buy goods worth half of your monthly pension and we would give you change in cash. So, if you earn $200, they would say buy goods worth US$100, then we will give you change in cash. They force you to use half of your monthly pension into groceries which you do not need. Is there any policy to protect pensioners?" he asked.
"If it is brought to the authorities' attention, it will be dealt with accordingly and the relevant Ministry should be advised. The plastic money I was talking about is like your visa cards and so forth because we are moving away, like everywhere else in the world, from using cash or transporting cash and we are saying we need to get everybody on board, including people in rural areas to be able to have that plastic similar to a visa card. But that which you are talking about is abuse and should be reported to the relevant authorities," she said.
Source - Byo24News
