Government — A total of 1 923 businesses have been prosecuted since January this year for various consumer-related offences, including selling expired goods, counterfeit products, and substandard items, the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) has revealed. The announcement was made yesterday by CPC board chairperson, Commissioner Respina Zinyanduko, at the annual Consumer Conference in Bulawayo.
Other offences cited include improper labelling, underweight products, failure to provide warranties, and breaches of refund and return policies. Commissioner Zinyanduko emphasised the Commission’s determination to hold all perpetrators accountable.
“We will not rest until all offenders are brought to book,” she said. “Consumers must no longer be exposed to harmful products that compromise their health and safety.”
Comm Zinyanduko expressed particular concern over the increasing circulation of fake electronics in the local market. “Some traders are importing refurbished laptops and cellphones but misrepresenting them as brand-new. This constitutes serious fraud and gross misrepresentation of product quality,” she said.
She highlighted that the CPC has been conducting nationwide raids in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Republic Police, ZIMRA, the Trade Measures Department, local authorities, and the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ).
“These coordinated blitz operations have led to the confiscation of counterfeit sugar, smuggled milk, illicit beverages, substandard alcoholic drinks, and various other unsafe goods. All seized products have been destroyed under the supervision of public health inspectors,” Comm Zinyanduko said.
Despite these successes, the CPC chairperson acknowledged persistent enforcement gaps, particularly in remote areas.
Government Targets Counterfeit Trade in Nationwide Drive
To bridge these gaps, the CPC plans to intensify consumer awareness campaigns nationwide, guided by President Mnangagwa’s mantra: “No one and no place should be left behind.” The Commission is also engaging the National Prosecuting Authority, the Judiciary, the Police, the Ministry of Justice, and the Attorney General’s Office to strengthen sentencing for offenders and close loopholes in the Consumer Protection Act.
“The goal is to make enforcement more effective and ensure that the private sector, which has long cried out about the threat of counterfeits, sees tangible action,” Comm Zinyanduko said. She urged delegates at the conference to transform discussions into actionable strategies that protect every consumer, whether in urban centres or the remotest communities.
“Together, we can build a marketplace anchored in integrity, restore confidence, empower our people, and move Zimbabwe closer to achieving Vision 2030,” she added.
The annual Consumer Conference, running under the theme “Combating Proliferation of Counterfeit Products for Enhanced Industry Competitiveness and Consumer Safety for the Realisation of Vision 2030,” brings together senior government officials, regulators, industry players, and consumer rights advocates.
Comm Zinyanduko explained that the theme was designed to reflect the growing threat counterfeit products pose to public health, industry competitiveness, and national fiscal revenues. “This conference will contribute to crafting strategies that eliminate the menace of counterfeits,” she said.
She emphasised that consumer protection is central to Zimbabwe’s broader economic blueprint. Achieving Vision 2030—which seeks to transform Zimbabwe into an empowered upper-middle-income economy—depends heavily on ensuring a safe marketplace, preserving industry integrity, and promoting societal well-being.
Consumer protection has also been formally recognised as a key pillar under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), expected to be launched later this year. NDS2 adopts a holistic approach to economic growth, placing consumer protection at the centre of long-term stability and sustainable development.
Comm Zinyanduko stressed that CPC’s operations are aligned with global best practices guided by the United Nations framework on consumer protection, which outlines principles such as fair trading, access to essential goods, consumer education, and inclusive decision-making.
“The Commission has been actively conducting enforcement operations, market surveillance, and public education programs across the country to empower consumers to demand and defend their rights,” she said.
Through these efforts, the CPC aims to strengthen Zimbabwe’s consumer protection ecosystem, ensuring that markets are transparent, accountable, and safe for all citizens.
“By addressing counterfeit products and other consumer violations head-on, we are not only protecting individual consumers but also supporting the growth of legitimate businesses and the national economy,” Comm Zinyanduko concluded.
Source- Herald
