Government and Industry Launch Renewed Drive Against Counterfeit Goods

Zimbabwe’s government and Consumer Council launch a national campaign against counterfeit goods, combining awareness roadshows, enforcement operations, and cross-border cooperation to protect consumers and legitimate businesses (image source)

HARARE — The government, working with the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) and private partners, has launched a coordinated national campaign to combat the surge of counterfeit and substandard goods in local markets. The National Awareness Campaign on Anti-Counterfeits, unveiled this week, aims to protect consumers and legitimate businesses through awareness roadshows, enforcement operations, and policy advocacy.

The CCZ, partnering with Proma Events Africa, will roll out educational roadshows across all provinces, focusing on high-risk product categories such as pharmaceuticals, food staples, automotive parts, and solar equipment — sectors where counterfeit goods pose serious health and safety risks.

Speaking at the launch in Kwekwe, CCZ chief executive Rosemary Mpofu warned that counterfeit products not only threaten public health but also undercut genuine producers and erode government revenues. “Fake goods are a danger to life, destroy business confidence, and deprive the state of critical tax income,” Mpofu said. She urged the government to impose stiffer penalties, including imprisonment, on counterfeiters to deter the illicit trade.

Enforcement agencies will complement public education with market inspections, product seizures, and joint operations involving the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Trade Measures Department, and border control units. Officials stressed that regional cooperation is vital to stem cross-border supply chains feeding local markets with fake imports.

Industry groups have welcomed the initiative, calling for incentives and certification programs to support compliant local manufacturers. They proposed investment in traceability and anti-tampering packaging technologies to help consumers verify authenticity. Civil-society actors echoed the need for widespread consumer education, particularly in low-income areas where cheap counterfeit products often fill affordability gaps.

Campaign roadshows will therefore pair enforcement messaging with consumer-rights education and practical advice on identifying genuine goods and using safe, affordable alternatives.

Observers say long-term success will depend on strong regulation, swift judicial follow-up, and transparent progress reporting. The CCZ has committed to tracking seizures, prosecutions, and consumer engagement outcomes to ensure accountability.

Officials believe that, if sustained, the campaign could restore market confidence, protect public health, and strengthen Zimbabwe’s formal economy by reducing the prevalence of dangerous counterfeit goods.