Government, business community meet over counterfeit products

All is set for an indaba between the Government, captains of industry, and other key stakeholders to deliberate on the consequences of counterfeit products in the country.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce, in collaboration with the National Economic Consultative Forum (NECF), is hosting the dialogue.

Running under the theme ‘Combating Counterfeit Products in Zimbabwe and Fostering Economic Growth’, the event will feature high-level interactive panel discussions.

According to the draft programme, the guest of honour, Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu, will deliver the keynote address.

Other Government ministers expected to attend the event include:

 Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube

 Justice, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi

 Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe

 Health and Child Care Minister, Dr Douglas Mombeshora.

 Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Minister Monica Mutsvangwa

 Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe

Our Reporter Blessings Chidhakwa is following proceedings and will keep you informed.

Zim steps up fight against counterfeit goods

The flooding of counterfeit goods on the market, including pharmaceuticals, electrical goods, and food products, is posing a serious threat to Zimbabwe’s economy and public safety, a top Government official has said.

This was revealed during the indaba.

Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Engineer Amos Marawa said illicit trade undermines local industries, reduces tax revenues, and endangers consumers.

Engineer Marawa said there is need to urgently deal with this issue.

“The global economic impact of counterfeit goods is staggering, with billions of revenue lost annually, while millions of jobs are affected.

“Zimbabwe has not been spared, and it is our duty as policymakers, industry leaders, and law enforcement to take action,” he said.

“The fight against counterfeiting must be a national priority. It is key to industrialisation, investor confidence, and achieving Vision 2030,” Engineer Marawa said.

The Deputy Chief Secretary also called for stronger legal frameworks and international collaboration to curb illicit trade.

‘It cannot be business as usual’

Government has called for urgent and decisive action to tackle the growing threat of counterfeit goods, which are crippling local industries and endangering consumers.

Speaking at the high-level dialogue, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Dr Thomas Utete Wushe, who was represented by Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Mrs Netai Loice Magade, said there is need for a collective response.

“It cannot be business as usual. We need to get to the bottom of this matter and collectively come up with appropriate intervention measures that will address the issue,” said Dr Wushe.

The dialogue said aims to safeguard local industries and protect consumers.

“My honest plea with stakeholders gathered here today is not to only discuss the symptoms of this problem, but to dig deep and get to the roots of this matter. This problem has the potential to damage the nation’s industrial fabric,” he said.

Dr Wushe said counterfeit goods have “infested” the domestic market, compromising quality, consumer safety, and the country’s economic potential.

“They rob legitimate businesses of their hard-earned revenue and cause significant health risks to our people,” he said.

Dr Wushe said the formal retail sector has been hit hard, with several businesses closing due to the influx of fake products.

“These counterfeit goods have resulted in the poor performance of the formal retail sector and the closure of several formal retail outlets,” he said.

Dr Wushe also commended the National Economic Consultative Forum (NECF) for organizing the dialogue, highlighting its role in uniting key stakeholders.

Industry Minister’s call to end smuggling of counterfeit goods

There is an urgent need for innovative strategies to combat the influx of smuggled counterfeit goods as these products are harming the country’s economy, Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu has said.

Minister Ndlovu was represented by Deputy Minister Raj Modi at the national dialogue.

“We must think creatively and find effective ways to put an end to the smuggling of counterfeit goods,” he said.

“This is not a situation we can accept as normal. It is time for all of us to take a firm stand and deliver a serious blow to the counterfeit trade. This dialogue must lead to real solutions, it cannot end just as discussions.”

Minister Ndlovu raised concerns over the availability of fake products, some of which are locally produced in unregulated backyard industries, while others are cheap imitations smuggled from neighbouring countries.

“These counterfeit goods severely impact our local industries, and consumers often prioritize low prices without realizing the damage being done,” he said.

“Additionally, these illegal traders evade taxes, robbing the Government of revenue.”

The minister said they will continue pushing for stronger enforcement, policy reforms, and stricter measures to protect legitimate businesses and consumers.

‘Local authorities have a role to play in getting counterfeit goods off the market’

The Deputy Minister responsible for Local Authorities and Traditional Leadership in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Cde Albert Mavunga has said there is need to guard against counterfeit goods infiltrating the markets through illegal vendors and unregulated shops.

“As we promote local economic growth, we must put structures in place to support small and medium enterprises while ensuring compliance with the law,” he said.

“Unfortunately, counterfeit products are gaining ground in our markets through illegal vendors, unregistered shops, and unregulated vending spaces.”

Deputy Minister Mavunga urged Zimbabwe’s 92 local authorities to take decisive action in combating counterfeit trade by enforcing policies that align with the country’s national development goals.

“We need our local authorities to fully participate in addressing this issue,” he said.

“They must not only enforce existing laws but also align their policies with the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the Government’s vision has for the nation.”

Deputy Minister Mavunga also called for a review of current policies to ensure they adapt to the evolving economic environment.