A blitzkrieg by the Industry and Commerce Ministry has netted over 600 businesses operating in the country’s six provinces in past months for selling counterfeit products.
Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndhlovu said the culprits were arrested in Harare, Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South, Manicaland and Masvingo.
He said these business operators cases are now before the courts.
“The Ministry of Industry and Commerce notes with concern the sudden proliferation of counterfeit or substandard products in the market.
“It is against this background that the Ministry directed the Consumer Protection Commission and the Trade Measures Department in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to carry out enforcement blitz targeting shops selling counterfeit goods in Harare,” said Minister Ndhlovu.
He revealed that the products cuts across all products in the market, which include colgate, and other foodstuffs such as mealie meal
“From the time the Taskforce was set up, over 600 businesses have been prosecuted for selling counterfeits goods,” he said.
Since the beginning of the blitz in six provinces, the task force siezed several counterfeit products.
“In Harare, 715 x 10kilogrammes of counterfeits pearlenta mealie meal was seized in Harare CBD and the Case is pending investiagation or Court to identify the criminal Syndicates behind this menace.
“Manfactures of unlabelled and substandard products inclusive of beverages,illicit alcoholic beverages are being restricted through issuance of Compliance notices.
“Our teams in Bulawayo enforcement activities resulted in confisication of ;
14x 2litres of delta pine expired product
21 x 500g of lemon creams were found expired
12x 2litres soft drinks were found expired.
“Teams in Manicaland retrieved the following items were seized
17 x 750mls of domestos was found expired
4 litres of Tebucanazole was found expired
12 x 1 litre abametin was found expired
73 x 200mls amitrazine was found expired, he said
Minister Ndhlovu said in also yielded results during its blitz in Mavingo, Matabeleland South and North.
“Units deployed in Matabeleland South took 15 x 500mls Sip Sip ready drink juice was found expired
2x 1 litre of sprite was found expired
03 x Cases of 2 litres of delta fanta was found expired
15 x Charhons crunch biscuits was found expired.”
Whilst teams in Masvingo recovered
16 x Cases of expired delta soft drinks seized
08 x500g of Crunchie biscuits were found expired
15 units of powerplus were restricted to be sold in shops.
He said in Matabeleland North the inspectors intercepted
08 x Soft beverages was found expired
01 x Case of expired alcoholic beverages
18x 400mls of expired minute maid.
“The Commission has dispatched teams to Mash West and Mash East Provinces in the coming week covering periods 27 July to 03 August 2025 in efforts to cover the remaining provinces in efforts to leave no one and no place behind,” said Minister Ndhlovu.
He said the Cabinet Taskforce was set up by government to deal with business malpractices which are targeting various offences such as selling counterfeit products and smuggling.
“The recent blitz in Harare is a continuation of the work of the Taskforce, which include a number of Government departments and all Regulatory Authorities. “Government is casting its net wider so that all perpetrators and unscrupulous busineses are brought to book.
“The Ministry will not rest until sanity prevails in the market. The blitz is nation wide and is going to cover all areas with Inspectors from CPC and Trade Measures having already been deployed in all the country’s ten provinces in line with His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe’s thrust of Leaving No One and No Place behind,” said Minister Ndhlovu.
He said the Ministry has also rolled out education and awareness campaigns in the country’s provinces, educating consumers about how to identify genuine products, including checking certifications, warranties and authorised sellers.
“All consumers are being encouraged to report suspected products and sellers so that appropriate action is taken.”
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