COUNTERFEIT PRODUCTS FLOOD DOWNTOWN TUCKSHOPS

Talent Gore

CONSUMERS have voiced concern over the prevalence of counterfeit items, particularly in downtown Harare tuckshops, raising alarm about the quality and safety of these products.

The Government is trying to weed out all counterfeit products that don’t meet the standards set by the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ).

In an interview with this publication, Retail industry analyst, Clay Masimba, warned consumers against buying products from unregistered and unlicensed tuckshops.

These shops mushroomed at every corner in the Harare CBD.

He added that the proliferation of these counterfeit products further undermine the integrity of local businesses and brands.

“Consumers should prioritise purchasing goods from reputable supermarkets such as OK, TM PicknPay, and Choppies, where quality assurance measures are in place,” said Masimba.

Masimba emphasised the need for Government intervention in addressing the issue of counterfeit products.

“The Government should implement stringent measures to crack down on counterfeiters and protect consumers from sub-standard goods.

“It is imperative to safeguard public health and restore trust in local products,” he said.

Masimba said the presence of counterfeit goods on the market eroded consumer trust.

“This generalised mistrust makes consumers hesitant to support local products, fearing they may be substandard.

“More-so, unlike reputable supermarkets such as OK, TM Pick n Pay, and Choppies, to mention but a few, where quality control measures are stringent, downtown tuckshops have become hotspots for counterfeit goods.

“Products, ranging from food items to household essentials, often fail to meet quality standards and pose potential health risks to consumers,” said Masimba.

A city resident, Nomsa Khosa, lamented her recent encounter with counterfeit cereal.

“I bought a box of ‘Cerevita’ from a downtown tuckshop, but it tasted too sweet and didn’t have the same texture as the original,” she said.

Another city resident, Tendai Gasva, of Avondale, said:

“I bought what I thought was a reputable brand of dish-washing liquid, but it turned out to be ineffective in cleaning my dishes. It was clearly a counterfeit product.”