THE Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) is pushing for dedicated anti-counterfeit legislation, as it emerged that fake goods have become the leading source of consumer complaints.
Already, knock-offs put public health and consumer safety at great risk and have negatively affected the integrity of local markets.
CCZ chief executive officer Ms Rose Mpofu said the counterfeit products had become one of the biggest threats facing consumers, prompting the CCZ to intensify awareness campaigns, introduce digital product verification tools and advocate for stronger legislation.
She said counterfeit-related complaints now account for more than half of all consumer grievances received by the council.
In the first quarter of 2026, CCZ recorded 2,022 complaints and 3,503 in the second quarter, with over half of these complaints related to counterfeit products.
She said that online scams and misleading advertising were the second most common complaint, with fraudsters increasingly using digital platforms to deceive consumers.
Speaking on the sidelines of a media engagement on Thursday, Mrs Mpofu said the proposed Anti-Counterfeit Act would establish a dedicated legal framework and authority focused exclusively on combating counterfeit products.
She said CCZ had engaged legislators and studied countries that have successfully implemented similar laws.
“Consumer Council of Zimbabwe has realised that the issue of counterfeits is topping the list of consumer complaints. We are lobbying for the Anti-Counterfeit Act. I think so far we have managed to convince quite a number of legislators about the need for an anti-counterfeit act.
“We have also done our homework in other countries, where they have successfully enacted anti-counterfeit acts. The Anti-Counterfeit Act will be solely addressing the issue of counterfeit goods, not anything else but counterfeit,” said Mrs Mpofu.
Mrs Mpofu noted that although some aspects of counterfeiting are covered under existing legislation, the scale of the problem requires a dedicated law and institution focused solely on counterfeit goods.
She added that stronger enforcement would help protect consumers from potentially harmful products, promote fair competition and safeguard legitimate businesses from losses caused by counterfeit trade.
Mpofu encouraged consumers to be vigilant when purchasing products from reputable outlets, checking labels carefully and being wary of unusually low prices.
She noted that counterfeiting extends beyond imitation brands to include products that fail to meet declared specifications, such as weight.
“If a product that normally sells at a certain price suddenly becomes much cheaper, consumers should question why. Fair pricing is important, but prices that are unrealistically low may indicate counterfeit goods.
“A product labelled as weighing two kilograms but containing only 1,5 kilograms is also counterfeit because it does not meet the claims on the packaging,” Ms Mpofu said.
To strengthen consumer protection, the council launched the CCZ Verified digital platform, which enables consumers to scan products and determine their authenticity before buying.
According to Ms Mpofu, the platform provides information on a product’s manufacturer, production details and batch number, while fake products are immediately flagged as unauthorised or unrecognised.
The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) is a registered consumer welfare organisation mandated to protect and empower consumers against unfair trading practices.
As a lawful consumer protection body, CCZ facilitates arbitration and conciliation between consumers and suppliers to resolve disputes.
Its core functions include handling consumer complaints, conducting market research, advocating for stronger consumer protection laws and policies, and leading public awareness campaigns aimed at promoting consumer rights and informed purchasing decisions.-herald
