More than 80,000 counterfeit and unsafe products have been pulled off the shelves in the past four months as Government intensifies efforts to protect consumers from harmful goods.
The blitz, led by the Business Malpractices Taskforce, has seen a wide range of items confiscated — from basic foodstuffs such as cooking oil, sugar, rice, maize meal and milk to counterfeit toothpaste, detergents, petroleum jelly, flour and electrical appliances.
Authorities say some of the seized goods were found to be underweight, fake, repackaged or containing toxic substances, putting the health of unsuspecting consumers at risk.
Speaking at a consumer affairs and anti-counterfeit workshop hosted by the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) last week, Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu said inspections had intensified across the country.
“Since April 2025, a total of 54,443 businesses have been inspected nationwide. From those inspections, 86,962 non-compliant products have been removed from circulation, 6,823 compliance notices issued and 5,656 prosecutions finalised,” Ndlovu said.
He stressed that the campaign was not only about punishing offenders but also about promoting fair trade, correcting bad practices and restoring consumer confidence in the marketplace.
“The consequences of counterfeits and unsafe goods are far-reaching. They can cause loss of life, destroy industries and threaten jobs. That is why we call upon retailers, wholesalers, supply chain actors and even informal traders to embrace a culture of compliance,” the minister warned.
Ndlovu added that ethical retailing must move beyond avoiding penalties, urging businesses to see compliance as an opportunity to build consumer trust and attract investment.
Government has pledged to continue working closely with retailers, manufacturers and other stakeholders through clear policy frameworks and robust enforcement mechanisms to create a safer, fairer trading environment.
