Bulawayo — Vice President Constantino Chiwenga on Friday said substandard and counterfeit products are undermining the country`s economic revival, threatening public safety, and progress towards Vision 2030.
He said this in a speech read on his behalf by Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Raji Modi, at the two-day 2025 Annual Consumer Conference, held at Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre (ZIEC) here.
The conference was held under the theme, “Completing the Qualification of Counterfeit Products for Enhanced Industry Competitiveness and Consumer Safety Towards Vision 2030.”
The event, which was convened by the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC), also marked a strategic shift in national efforts to safeguard markets from smuggled illicit goods.
VP Chiwenga said the country could no longer afford to tolerate the growing infiltration of fake goods, describing the situation as a national crisis requiring urgent and unified action.
“The conference is a declaration of our unwavering commitment to decisively confront the scourge of counterfeit and sub-standard products. This menace poses a serious threat not only to the health and safety of every consumer but also jeopardizes our very economic viability,” he said.
He condemned traders who deliberately stock dangerous and fake products, saying their activities were endangering lives and crippling national productivity.
“Crooked traders who flood our markets with counterfeit goods, be they fake medicines, beverages, detergents, adulterated food, defective electrical appliances, or substandard construction materials, are not only defrauding consumers, they are also endangering lives and eroding our national productivity.
“Even worse, it makes us the least attractive for any form of investment, at a time when we need to create jobs for our graduates and youths,” he said.
The Vice President said the country should “fiercely protect” its economic foundation from the corrosive threat of counterfeiting.
He also said Vision 2030 calls for a thriving, industrialised and globally recognised economy, adding that this noble goal cannot be achieved if markets remain flooded with fake and counterfeit products.
“The connection between our dedicated efforts today and the grand aspirations of National Vision 2030 is direct and undeniable.
“Vision 2030 calls for a thriving, industrialized, and globally recognized economy. This noble goal cannot be achieved if our markets remain flooded with fake and counterfeit products,” he said.
VP Chiwenga commended the government for prioritizing consumer safety and fair trade, saying the Second Republic has positioned consumer protection at the core of its economic transformation agenda.
“The Second Republic has positioned consumer protection and fair-trade practices at the very core of our economic transformation agenda. The soon-to-be-launched National Development Strategy 2 (2026–2030) will further strengthen the government’s resolve to eliminate economic malpractices,” he said.
To curb the rise in illicit trade, the Vice President said, Cabinet had established a Task Force on Business Malpractices, targeting rampant smuggling of expired, underweight and unlabelled products into the country.
“Government has moved decisively beyond fragmented enforcement. We have adopted a Whole-of-Government Approach in our intensified fight against these malpractices. We are investing significantly in training our frontline enforcement agencies to effectively identify and neutralize sophisticated fake products, “ he said.
VP Chiwenga assured industry and consumers that authorities will enforce the law without hesitation to ensure all the culprits are brought to book.
“I want to assure all stakeholders present that the government is working tirelessly and will leave no stone unturned to ensure that economic justice prevails in our markets. Government is also reviewing legislation to strengthen penalties, modernize consumer protection, and align with global standards,” he said.
Chiwenga stressed the need for education and grassroots participation to ensure consumer rights are protected.
“We will continue to capacitate consumers through education awareness campaigns, empower consumer watchdogs, and collaborate with local authorities, women’s groups, and youth organisations, to ensure that consumer rights are protected,” he said.
VP Chiwenga implored businesses to take the lead in self-regulation, invest in product verification, utilize tamper-proof packaging and collaborate openly with enforcement agencies.
“Genuine businesses can only thrive in a market defined by trust, transparency and compliance. I urge you to take the lead in self-regulation, invest in product verification, utilize tamper-proof packaging and collaborate openly with our enforcement agencies.
“Let us collectively promote the ‘Made in Zimbabwe’ brand as an undeniable guarantee of authenticity, quality and integrity,” he said.
He called on law enforcement agencies to carry out their duties with utmost diligence, adding that all imports should be thoroughly checked at points of entry.
“I direct you to carry out your duties with the utmost diligence. It is imperative that all imports are meticulously checked at our ports of entry. Vigilance at our borders is non-negotiable in preventing counterfeit goods from entering and undermining Zimbabwe’s economic progress,” said VP Chiwenga.