Online Reporter
Michael Tome
Business Reporter
THE Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) is pushing for dedicated legislation to curb the growing scourge of counterfeit goods, with fake products now the leading source of consumer complaints received by the watchdog.
Already, knock-offs put public health and consumer safety at great risk and have negatively affected the integrity of local markets.
CCZ chief executive officer Ms Rose Mpofu said the counterfeit products had become one of the biggest threats facing consumers, prompting the CCZ to intensify awareness campaigns, introduce digital product verification tools and advocate for stronger legislation.
She said counterfeit-related complaints now account for more than half of all consumer grievances received by the council.
In the first quarter of 2026, CCZ recorded 2 022 complaints and 3 503 in the second quarter, with over half of these complaints related to counterfeit products.
She said that online scams and misleading advertising were the second most common complaint, with fraudsters increasingly using digital platforms to deceive consumers.
Speaking on the sidelines of a media engagement on Thursday, Mrs Mpofu said the proposed Anti-Counterfeit Act would establish a dedicated legal framework and authority focused exclusively on combating counterfeit products.
She said CCZ had engaged legislators and studied countries that have successfully implemented similar laws.
“Consumer Council of Zimbabwe has realised that the issue of counterfeits is topping the list of consumer complaints. We are lobbying for the Anti-Counterfeit Act. I think so far we have managed to convince quite a number of legislators about the need for an anti-counterfeit act.
“We have also done our homework in other countries, where they have successfully enacted anti-counterfeit acts. The Anti-Counterfeit Act will be solely addressing the issue of counterfeit goods, not anything else but counterfeit,” said Mrs Mpofu.
Mrs Mpofu noted that although some aspects of counterfeiting are covered under existing legislation, the scale of the problem requires a dedicated law and institution focused solely on counterfeit goods.
She added that stronger enforcement would help protect consumers from potentially harmful products, promote fair competition and safeguard legitimate businesses from losses caused by counterfeit trade.
Mpofu encouraged consumers to be vigilant when purchasing products from reputable outlets, checking labels carefully and being wary of unusually low prices.
