Online Reporter
Trust Freddy
Herald Correspondent
OVER 570 businesses have been prosecuted for selling expired products out of 1 615 non-compliant firms nabbed nationwide since January this year by the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC).
This comes as the CPC intensifies its national campaign against counterfeit goods and unfair market malpractices.
The figure was disclosed yesterday by CPC Board Chairperson, Commissioner Respina Zinyanduko, who confirmed that enforcement officers have conducted 12 105 market inspections across all ten provinces to protect consumers from deceptive and unlawful trade conduct.
The ongoing operation, anchored on Section 36 of the Consumer Protection Act, prohibits suppliers from using false, misleading, or deceptive representations regarding goods offered to the public.
“The Consumer Protection Commission, a statutory body established through an Act of Parliament, the Consumer Protection Act, is seized with the challenge of counterfeit products in the market and prevalence of other business malpractices,” Commissioner Zinyanduko said in an interview.
“It is against this background that the Commission has been carrying out enforcement activities to ensure that businesses comply with provisions of the law.”
Commissioner Respina said the sale of expired products topped the list of offences with 572 prosecutions, closely followed by the failure to display prices, which accounted for 471 prosecutions.
“Through its enforcement efforts, the Commission has been inundated with various complaints where businesses are short-changing consumers,” Commissioner Zinyanduko said.
A further 291 businesses received compliance notices for selling improperly labelled goods.
Other violations included non-issuance of warranties, 88; failure to display warning signs, 68; illegal disclaimer clauses, 37; misleading representations, 30; non-issuance of receipts, 26; and unfair trade practices, 17.
The commission conducted 12 105 inspections nationwide, resulting in 1 615 prosecution notices and 925 compliance notices. Matabeleland South led in total inspections with 1821.
It recorded 143 prosecution notices and 105 compliance notices. Masvingo conducted 1532 inspections and produced the highest number of prosecution notices at 291, plus 170 compliance notices.
Midlands recorded 1 440 inspections with 169 prosecution notices and 97 compliance notices. Matabeleland North conducted 1 301 inspections, generating 186 prosecution notices and 92 compliance notices. For July 2026, it led the country with 293 inspections and 45 prosecution notices.
Mashonaland Central recorded 1 171 inspections, 174 prosecution notices and 116 compliance notices. Mashonaland East had 1 123 inspections, 167 prosecution notices and the lowest compliance notices at 24.
Mashonaland West recorded 1,208 inspections, with 178 prosecution notices and 68 compliance notices. Manicaland conducted 901 inspections and issued 133 prosecution notices and 70 compliance notices.
Harare recorded 855 inspections with 73 prosecution notices and 68 compliance notices. It also recorded the highest consumer complaints in July at 68 of 112 nationwide.
Bulawayo conducted 753 inspections but issued 115 compliance notices — the highest compliance figure among provinces — along with 101 prosecution notices.
Commissioner Zinyanduko said the focus on previously under-inspected areas followed the devolution program rolled out in 2025/2026.
“In summary, provinces like Matabeleland South and Masvingo led in inspection volumes and prosecution outcomes, while Bulawayo showed notably stronger compliance notice results,” Commissioner Zinyanduko said. “On the available monthly figures, Matabeleland North stands out as the current national leader in detections and prosecutions.”
The commission also urged consumers to check expiry dates, supplier details, warning labels and receipts.
“Consumers who suspect a product is counterfeit, expired, underweight, or illegally repackaged are urged to report it to the Commission for investigation” through toll-free numbers Econet 080 803 23 and NetOne 080 123 01, Commissioner Zinyanduko said.
She warned that counterfeiters were targeting established brands.
“Recent seizures of counterfeit Hullets sugar and Eversharp pens, as well as fake Nivea and Shield Sheen products, show that even well-known brands are being targeted by counterfeiters,” she said.
The CPC said it was working with ZRP, ZIMRA, SAZ, and other agencies.
“The Commission continues to work with a wide range of partner institutions to curb counterfeiting and related malpractices, including the Office of the President and Cabinet, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, other Ministries, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, ZIMRA, City Health Departments, the Liquor Licensing Board, the Standards Association of Zimbabwe, Trade Measures, and, on specific product lines, engagements with manufacturers and industry bodies such as AFDIS, Lobels, and the Dairy Board/Dairy Services on smuggling and counterfeit dairy products.”
In the first half of the year, it conducted six national blitzes. In July, 31 cases were referred to other regulators, bringing total referrals to about 130.
“Going forward, the Commission is prioritising routine deployment of inspectors to remote areas,” Commissioner Zinyanduko said.
