Government tightens war on counterfeit goods

 

Oliver Kazunga

Senior Reporter

GOVERNMENT has intensified its crackdown on counterfeit, unsafe and substandard products, declaring stronger regulatory cooperation key to protecting consumers, defending local industries and boosting confidence in Zimbabwean-made goods.

In a speech read on his behalf by a deputy director in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Mrs Petronella Masunda, during the Inaugural Regulators Forum in Harare today, Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu said the fight against fake and substandard products had become central to the country’s industrialisation drive as Government moves to strengthen consumer protection through closer collaboration among regulators.

“As we accelerate industrialisation, consumer protection becomes even more critical,” he said.

“Industrial growth must be accompanied by high standards of product quality, fair competition, responsible manufacturing, ethical trading practices and effective market surveillance.”

Minister Ndlovu said strong consumer protection was indispensable to building a competitive and inclusive economy.

He said the emergence of increasingly sophisticated markets required regulators to work together to tackle consumer protection challenges that cut across multiple sectors, including telecommunications, financial services, transport, health services, energy and digital commerce.

Dr Ndlovu said the Government was determined to ensure economic growth went hand in hand with consumer welfare by creating fair, transparent and competitive markets.

He noted that stronger regulatory systems would also help create a level playing field for legitimate businesses while protecting consumers from exploitation.

“Strong consumer protection builds confidence in locally manufactured goods, encourages innovation, rewards compliant businesses and discourages the production and sale of counterfeit, unsafe and substandard products that undermine legitimate industries,” said Dr Ndlovu.

He said the Government had already strengthened the country’s consumer protection architecture through the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) and the recently approved Consumer Protection Policy, which complements the Consumer Protection Act by providing a comprehensive framework for advancing consumer welfare.

Dr Ndlovu said regulators should intensify information sharing, coordinate inspections and investigations, harmonise complaint-handling procedures and undertake joint consumer education programmes to improve service delivery.

He added that no single institution had the resources, expertise or jurisdiction to effectively address today’s increasingly complex consumer protection challenges, making collaboration essential.

“Such collaboration will improve regulatory efficiency, eliminate unnecessary duplication, promote consistent enforcement and ensure that consumers receive timely, fair and effective remedies whenever their rights are violated,” said Dr Ndlovu.

He said a well-regulated marketplace would not only safeguard consumers but also protect responsible businesses, attract investment and enhance Zimbabwe’s competitiveness as the country pursues the objectives of the National Development Strategy 2 and Vision 2030.