Online Reporter
Business Reporter
THE Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) has declared war on the proliferation of counterfeit goods, unveiling a sophisticated technological roadmap to insulate Zimbabwe’s economy from a “scourge” that is currently sabotaging national industrialisation.
Delivering a lecture at the Zimpapers Public Lecture Series on 26 February 2026,HIT Vice Chancellor, Professor Engineer Quinton Kanhukamwe, warned that fake products are no longer just a brand protection issue but a systemic risk to public safety and the attainment of Vision 2030.
Prof Kanhukamwe revealed a startling array of counterfeit “realities” currently plaguing the country, ranging from explosive fake electronics and toxic pharmaceuticals to substandard mining components that threaten the integrity of the nation’s primary economic drivers.
In a detailed brief presented to government officials and captains of industry, the Vice Chancellor highlighted how the foundry and mining sectors—strategic pillars of the economy—are being undermined by “non-compliant” hardware.
“Water fittings made of lead-heavy alloys are being coated to mimic brass, posing severe public health risks, while diluted copper contact pads in electric arc furnaces are driving up energy costs and reducing industrial efficiency,” Professor Kanhukamwe said. He noted that local manufacturers, such as Kwekwe-based ChazonTech, face “unfair competition” from these substandard imports sold at artificially low prices.
To combat this, HIT has proposed the immediate establishment of a National Anti-Counterfeit R&D Hub and an Independent Testing and Verification Authority. The University aims to leverage its “technopreneurship” mandate to develop home-grown solutions, including blockchain supply chain tracking to ensure digital traceability of products from factory to consumer, AI monitoring labs capable of scanning online marketplaces and social media for counterfeit activity and trade anomalies as well as portable testing devices including handheld scanners designed for the instant verification of drugs, material compositions, and agro-inputs.
The Vice Chancellor framed the crisis within the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), noting that weak harmonisation of product verification across SADC borders has allowed illicit trade to flourish.
“Counterfeits undermine continental integration and industrial growth,” he said, calling for a “marketplace of ideas” where research and policy intersect to protect the public purse from revenue leakage caused by informal, illicit trade.
The lecture served as a clarion call for the private sector to move beyond traditional procurement and begin funding academic research. Professor Kanhukamwe urged local companies to establish professorial chairs at the university to champion the integrity of industrial supply chains.
“Blocking these products is not just about protecting brand names; it is about protecting our safety, our economy, and our values,” he concluded.
The event, attended by the Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Dr T. Utete-Ushe as guest of honour, underscores a growing urgency within the government to strengthen market surveillance and mandate strict certification for all critical industrial inputs.
