Chronicle Editor
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
INDUSTRY players and businesses have welcomed the establishment of an inter-ministerial taskforce aimed at addressing various business malpractices, including currency manipulation, the use of fraudulent scales, and the sale of underweight and unlabelled goods.
Chaired by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, this taskforce was formed following a Cabinet directive to promote ethical business practices and combat rampant misconduct within the economy.
In addition to these issues, the taskforce will also tackle the growing problem of smuggled and counterfeit products, which pose significant risks not only to the survival of the industrial sector but also to the health and safety of consumers.
This initiative coincides with ongoing joint operations by various institutions, including the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC), the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), and law enforcement agencies, aimed at uncovering widespread trade in smuggled goods at local shops, often referred to as tuck shops, across the country.
Commenting on the setting up of the inter-ministerial taskforce, Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Matabeleland regional manager, Mr Mduduzi Ncube said it was a welcome development as the proliferation of errant business malpractices was alarming not only in Bulawayo but countrywide.
“We are witnessing errant business malpractices that include currency manipulation, use of fraudulent scales, underweight and unlabelled goods, counterfeit and smuggled goods in Bulawayo and across the country that have significant effects on both businesses and the economy.
“There is also need for educating consumers about the dangers and disadvantages of purchasing counterfeit goods that can help drive demand back to legitimate products. Campaigns can emphasise the importance of brand integrity and quality,” he said.
Mr Ncube called on the need to implement incentives for local businesses, such as tax breaks or grants that can make it easier for them to compete against cheaper counterfeit products.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) Matabeleland Chapter president, Mr Stephen Ncube said selling of smuggled and counterfeit products among other business malpractices was crippling the industry in Bulawayo.
“Here in Bulawayo, we have industries that manufacture most of these products that we are finding on the market being smuggled and counterfeit products, these greatly affect their operations and businesses,” he said.
Bulawayo Chamber of Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) vice-chairperson, Ms Sithabile Bhebhe said SMEs in manufacturing and retail were going out of business because of smuggled and counterfeit products.
“We have SMEs that are into manufacturing and producing most products locally, but these are slowly dying because of the cheap smuggled and counterfeit products that we are seeing on the market. Some of the SMEs are also forced to then lower their prices but in the process, they are not making any profits, but its more losses,” she said.
Some of the products that have flooded the market include goods such as cooking oil, peanut butter, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, pharmaceuticals, detergents, toothpaste and rice.
Ms Bhebhe said there was a need for the authorities to scale up their operations to bring to book individuals who were contributing to the menace as it was no longer business as usual for most SMEs.
She said most of the people selling such products wanted consumers to buy using foreign currency, shying away from the local currency, another business malpractice that was becoming rampant.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu