By Flata Kavinga
The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) has revealed that the government is working on enacting a Counterfeit Act aimed at curbing the distribution of fake and substandard products that continue to flood the local market.
Speaking during a press conference held in Kwekwe, CCZ Board Chairperson Retired Colonel Humphrey Makuyana said the proposed legislation would help protect both consumers and legitimate manufacturers from the adverse effects of counterfeit goods.
“Counterfeit is real; it’s not imaginary. It destroys the whole economic system,” said Makuyana. “The consumer will be getting a fake product which will not perform as expected. The manufacturer will not sell and genuine quality will not penetrate the market.”
He said the CCZ, working with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, is lobbying for the introduction of the Counterfeit Act, which will clearly outline penalties and regulatory measures against individuals and companies found dealing in counterfeit products.
“We are now lobbying the Ministry of Trade and Commerce to introduce the Counterfeit Act. The progress is there, and very soon it will be in black and white,” said Makuyana. “It will deal with counterfeit goods or services which are not up to standard and there will be fines and penalties provided for.”
Makuyana called on all stakeholders — including consumers, manufacturers and distributors — to contribute their views towards shaping the legislation.
He also highlighted the pervasiveness of counterfeit products in everyday life, noting that fake consumer and industrial goods are already circulating widely in the country.
“As I speak of counterfeits, definitely some of us here are wearing fake items — even some branded electronics like certain Samsung M series phones, or paints such as some 20-litre Splash Paints, are not genuine,” he said. “Even in football, we are putting on fake jerseys. That’s our reality.”
Makuyana said the law would not only protect consumers from harmful and poor-quality products but also help restore public confidence in the market and safeguard government revenue lost through illicit trade.
The CCZ has been working closely with other regulatory bodies, including the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) and the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ), to ensure that only quality products are sold in the country.
