Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
CheckPoint Desk
A BOOMING underground market for creams, oils, pills and gels promising to enlarge male reproductive organs, breasts, buttocks and hips is raising alarm among health professionals and regulators.
The alarm comes amid growing concerns that many of the products are unregistered, untested and potentially dangerous.
Similarly, a man who bought a penile enlargement oil described the experience as both physically and financially painful.
“I was desperate because of insecurities,” he said. “The product caused swelling and discomfort. I eventually had to seek medical attention.”
Videos showing dramatic “before-and-after” transformations, influencer endorsements and customer testimonials have become common across social media, creating unrealistic beauty expectations while encouraging consumers to purchase products with little scrutiny.
Sold openly on social media platforms, in beauty shops and informal markets, the products are marketed as quick fixes for body enhancement, often with bold claims of delivering visible results within days.
An investigation by CheckPoint Desk found dozens of products being advertised online with little or no information about their ingredients, manufacturer or regulatory approval.
Some sellers promise permanent enlargement without surgery, while others claim their products are “100 percent natural” despite providing no scientific evidence to support the assertions.
Health experts said consumers were gambling with their health.
“There is no scientifically proven cream that can safely enlarge the penis, breasts, hips or buttocks permanently,” said Dr Nyasha Moyo, a Harare-based general practitioner.
“Consumers should be extremely cautious because many of these products contain undisclosed ingredients that may trigger allergic reactions, hormonal imbalances or long-term health complications.”
During the investigation, this publication identified several vendors selling enlargement creams through social media platforms.
Prices ranged from US$10 to more than US$80, depending on the product and its claimed effectiveness.
One vendor, who requested anonymity, said demand has surged over the past two years.
“People want quick results. We receive orders every day from men looking for enlargement products and women who want bigger hips or breasts.
“Most customers come through referrals or social media,” the vendor said.
The vendor admitted having limited knowledge about where some of the products were manufactured.
“Our suppliers import them. Customers do not usually ask about registration; they just want results.”
Medical practitioners said that attitude is worrying. Some pharmacists said products marketed as cosmetic creams can sometimes contain powerful pharmaceutical ingredients that should only be used under medical supervision.
“Some products have been found internationally to contain steroids, hormones or prescription medicines that are not declared on the label,” said pharmacist Rumbidzai Chikore.
“Without proper laboratory analysis, consumers have no way of knowing what they are applying to their bodies.”
Experts said the risk is heightened when products are purchased from unregulated online sellers or informal traders.
A 29-year-old Harare woman, who asked to be identified only as Tariro, said she spent nearly US$150 on various breast enlargement creams advertised on social media.
“They promised visible changes in three weeks, but nothing happened except painful skin irritation,” she said.
“When I contacted the seller, they blocked my number.”
The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) spokesperson, Davison Kaiyo, said consumers should verify whether medicines and health products are registered before purchasing them.
“MCAZ urges members of the public to only buy registered medicines from licensed premises,” he said.
“The quality, safety and efficacy of medicines obtained from unlicensed sources cannot be guaranteed, and such products may be substandard or falsified, posing potentially serious health risks to patients.
“Members of the public who are uncertain of a product’s registration status are urged to contact the MCAZ.”
Health authorities also warned that many body enhancement claims circulating online are unsupported by scientific evidence.
Patrick Munamba, Community Pharmacists Association of Zimbabwe (CPAZ) chairperson, said the growing informal market for body enhancement creams, pills, injections and gels were a serious public health concern.
Munamba said as primary healthcare providers embedded within Zimbabwean communities, community pharmacists are increasingly managing the fallout, patients are presented with severe, avoidable adverse reactions caused by unregulated chemical cocktails.
“These unlicensed products, often brought into the country via informal cross-border trade (runners/Mupedzanhamo markets) or sold through unverified social media vendors, are entirely unstandardized,” he said.
“Many enlargement products contain high doses of unlabelled systemic corticosteroids or androgenic steroids.
“Uncontrolled systemic exposure leads to hormonal imbalance, acute hypertension, kidney injury, and liver toxicity.
“Pills marketed for male enlargement often contain dynamic doses of undeclared sildenafil or tadalafil analogs.
“For individuals with underlying cardiac conditions, taking these alongside nitric oxide donors can trigger fatal hypotensive crashes or strokes.”
Munamba said injectables or gels used for buttock and breast reshaping frequently
contain industrial-grade silicone, paraffin or banned chemical irritants that lead to tissue necrosis, severe bacterial infection and permanent disfigurement.
He said the proliferation of these products bypasses standard legal channels.
“Vendors utilise online platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook to bypass physical regulatory oversight,” Mr Munamba said.
“Under the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act (MASCA) [Chapter 15:03], any product claiming a therapeutic or physical alteration effect must undergo stringent testing and registration with the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ). None of these street products possess valid MCAZ registration numbers.
“CPAZ highlights a rising trend where illegal sellers falsely print the MCAZ logo on packaging or claim products are “herbal and 100 percent safe” to deceive desperate consumers.
“The normalisation of these products creates a dual burden on local health institutions.”
Munamba said regulators must step up multi-agency border port control, tighten raids on illegal street markets and enforce strict penalties against unauthorised online advertisers of unregistered medicines.
He also urged community pharmacists to intensify public education campaigns within communities.
The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe said, according to the Consumer Protection Act Chapter 14:44 Section 10, consumers have a right to fair value, good quality and safety of goods and services, rights to health and safety, safe monitoring and recall.
CCZ CEO Rosemary Mpofu said:
“Consumers should not purchase or use unregistered products by a regulatory body as registration ensures that a product has been tested for safety, efficacy and quality,” she said.
“If not registered, there are high chances of not knowing what chemicals you are putting in your body.
“The consumers should be wary of serious health risks as these products pose serious dangers including organ damage, hormonal disruptions, skin infections, cancer risks, psychological harm and drug interactions if they are on other medications.”
