BUY Zimbabwe has established a dedicated data and market integrity desk, as a strategic step towards safeguarding Zimbabwe’s productive sector from the growing threat of counterfeits, fake goods and substandard products in the domestic market.
In a statement, Buy Zimbabwe said this initiative, which coincides with the annual Buy Zimbabwe Week commemorations from November 24-28, marked a major milestone in its mission to promote genuine local production, strengthen consumer confidence and ensure a fair and competitive trading environment for bona fide Zimbabwean manufacturers.
Buy Zimbabwe Week is a dedicated period of raising intense top-of-mind awareness on genuine Zimbabwean brands at a time when fakes and counterfeits are flooding the market.
The proliferation of counterfeit and substandard products has become a serious concern for industry, consumers and the national economy.
These illicit goods distort markets, undermine quality standards, and erode the hard-earned trust that legitimate producers have built over many years.
Buy Zimbabwe said the new data desk would serve as a 360-degree tracking and information-gathering platform, equipped to identify, monitor and analyse trends related to counterfeit products, deceptive labelling, substandard imports and fake look-alike brands that threaten the integrity of Zimbabwe’s local value chains.
Buy Zimbabwe chairman and chief executive officer, Mr Munyaradzi Hwengwere, said Zimbabwe could not build a strong industrial base if genuine producers were forced to compete with fake goods that enter the market unchecked.
“The establishment of this data unit is our bold response to an urgent national problem, and it positions Buy Zimbabwe at the forefront of market integrity and consumer protection,” said Mr Hwengwere.”
In addition to tracking emerging threats, Buy Zimbabwe is also conducting evidence-based research across key sectors to map the scale, origin and economic impact of counterfeit and substandard products.
This research will inform policy recommendations, support enforcement agencies, and provide local companies with accurate insights to defend their brands, protect their innovations, and uphold quality standards.
The findings will be shared with the Government, regulators, industry associations and consumer bodies to strengthen collaboration in combating illicit trade.
Mr Hwengwere emphasised the importance of collective responsibility, noting: “We must all agree that protecting local industry is not just the job of manufacturers — it is a national duty.”
“Every fake product on the shelf is a job lost, a company weakened, and a threat to the health and safety of consumers.
“With better data, better coordination, and stronger awareness, we can defend Zimbabwean industry and reward the companies that do things the right way. Buy Zimbabwe remains committed to championing an economy built on quality, authenticity and national pride.
“Through the data and market integrity desk, we reinforce our dedication to empowering genuine local producers, supporting regulatory enforcement, and ensuring that the Buy Zimbabwe insignia continues to stand for quality local goods, excellence and trustworthiness in every market.”
Meanwhile, Buy Zimbabwe has commended the significant strides being made by the Government, industry and local producers in strengthening Zimbabwe’s local content value chains.
The combined efforts of public and private sector players continue to accelerate industrialisation, drive job creation and foster greater economic self-reliance.-herald
