Online Reporter
BUREAU Veritas is a global leader in testing, inspection, and certification services and has extensive experience supporting governments and related authorities in delivering high-quality services.
It’s objectives are to support governments and their eco-systems to protect populations, the environment, and to foster economic competitiveness and business resiliency.
In Zimbabwe, Bureau Veritas has been the pioneer of the Consignment Based Conformity Assessment (CBCA) trade facilitation Programme and remains entrusted as a reliable partner with regards to the verification of conformity of goods to prescribed quality standards prior to importation.
As early as 2015, it has been instrumental in the success of the CBCA programme in Zimbabwe, achieving significant milestones in protecting local consumers and industries from hazardous or substandard goods:
Consumer Protection: Since inception Bureau Veritas has delivered substantial blockage of substandard and counterfeit goods and potentially life-threatening products from entering the Zimbabwean market and protecting the citizenry.
Programme Expansion: Bureau Veritas has played a key role in collaborating with Government in CBCA policy adaptations within the context of expanding the scope of products covered by the CBCA for wider consumer protection, including implementing the provisions of the new regulations under Statutory Instrument 124 of 2020 and SI 35 of 2024 in various export regions on behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe
Stakeholder Engagement: Actively works with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, ZIMRA, Consumer Council of Zimbabwe, Business Chambers and industry stakeholders to raise awareness, improve trade compliance, enhance awareness of CBCA benefits, and fight counterfeit products.
Transparent Trade Enhancement and Protection of Local Industry: Highlighted that the programme has significantly reduced non-conforming products (by over 9 times between 2016 and 2017) and improved the competitiveness of local industry from the adverse impact of cheap substandard products thereby playing a decisive role in supporting an enhancement of the industry capacity utilisation aspirations of the country.
Tendai Jeremiah Malunga is the contracts manager for Bureau Veritas and has extensive experience in trade facilitation, conformity assessment, capacity building enforcement training and contract management within Zimbabwe as well as East and Southern Africa. He has been instrumental in the implementation of the CBCA programme since 2015 within the context of raising awareness and is actively involved in supporting businesses navigating trade compliance requirements.
