Online Reporter
Sikhulekelani Moyo, Zimpapers Business Hub
THE Government has condemned business malpractices by some unscrupulous traders who sell counterfeit goods and pose danger to consumers, which adversely affects the country’s attractiveness to new investments.
The matter came under intense deliberation at the inaugural Annual Consumer Conference, which ended in Bulawayo on Friday, hosted by the Consumer Protection Commission in partnership with Zimpapers.
The two-day event ran under the theme: “Combating Proliferation of Counterfeit Products for Enhanced Industry Competitiveness and Consumer Safety for the Realisation of Vision 2030”, and drew participation of key local and foreign industry stakeholders, policymakers and relevant agencies.
Vice-President, Dr Constantino Chiwenga, who was represented by Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Raj Modi, stated in his keynote address, the need to create a vibrant domestic industry that is aligned with global best-practice, one built upon innovation, high standards and a superior quality of life.
“Crooked traders who flood our markets with counterfeit goods, be they fake medicines, beverages, detergents, adulterated food, defective electrical appliances, or substandard construction materials, are not only defrauding consumers, they are also endangering lives and eroding our national productivity,” said VP Chiwenga.
“Even worse, it makes us the least attractive for any form of investment, at a time when we need to create jobs for our graduates and youth.
“Today we reaffirm that the very foundation of our nation’s prosperity, innovation, quality and public trust, must be fiercely protected from the corrosive threat of counterfeiting.”
VP Chiwenga said the menace poses a serious threat not only to the health and safety of every consumer but also jeopardises the nation’s very economic viability.
According to the CPC, about 1 923 businesses have been prosecuted since January this year for various consumer-related offences, including selling expired goods and counterfeit products.
Other offences include selling substandard products, improper labelling, and underweight products, failing to provide warranties, and violating refund and return policies.
Dr Chiwenga said under the visionary leadership of President E D Mnangagwa, the Second Republic has positioned consumer protection and fair-trade practices at the very core of the economic transformation agenda.
He said this commitment will be profoundly amplified in the successor economic blueprint, the National Development Strategy 2 (2026- 2030), which is soon to be launched.
“In light of the complex challenges posed by counterfeit products and other malpractices, Cabinet proactively established the Task Force on Business Malpractices,” said Dr Chiwenga.
“This Task Force was necessitated by the increased incidence of offences like the rampant sale of smuggled, underweight, expired, and unlabelled goods, all of which negatively impact industrial growth and consumer welfare.
“Government has moved decisively beyond fragmented enforcement. We have adopted a Whole-of-Government Approach in our intensified fight against these malpractices.”
He said the Government is investing significantly in training the frontline enforcement agencies to effectively identify and neutralise sophisticated fake products, assuring all stakeholders that the Government is working tirelessly and will leave no stone unturned to ensure that economic justice prevails in the markets.
“We are in the process of reviewing and strengthening our policies and laws, so that they are not only comprehensive but also possess the necessary teeth to deter and punish offenders effectively,” said VP Chiwenga.
“Furthermore, we remain committed to modernising our Consumer Protection and Intellectual Property legislation, aligning it with international best practices, and implementing stiff penalties that reflect the grave nature of these economic crimes.
“We will continue to capacitate consumers through education awareness campaigns, empower consumer watchdogs, and collaborate with local authorities, women’s groups, and youth organisations, to ensure that consumer rights are protected.”
However, Dr Chiwenga said these robust efforts by the Government must be underpinned by a strong industry partnership, saying that genuine businesses can only thrive in a market defined by trust, transparency and compliance.
He urged private sector players to take the lead in self-regulation, invest in product verification, utilise tamper-proof packaging and collaborate openly with enforcement agencies. To consumers, VP Chiwenga said: “You are not powerless, you are the strongest ally of a just economy.
“Demand accountability, report wrongdoing, and use your purchasing power and voice to shape the marketplace.
“An empowered and vigilant consumer is a critical catalyst in the production and distribution of quality goods and services. The production of quality goods improves our country’s image and competitiveness in both the domestic and international markets.”
He directed border agencies and law enforcement to carry out their duties with the utmost diligence, saying that it is imperative that all imports are meticulously checked at ports of entry.
Bongani Ndlovu