ZIMBABWE’S manufacturing industry giants have forged a united front in support of a forthcoming public lecture to explore ways to eradicate the growing influx of counterfeit, expired and substandard goods.
Industry leaders warn that the illicit products are not only sabotaging efforts to re-establish domestic industrial capacity but also pose a direct and dangerous threat to public health.
The event, organised by the Zimpapers Business Hub in partnership with the Harare Institute of Technology (HIT), is scheduled for February 26, 2026.
Running under the thematic banner, “The Scourge of Counterfeit Products: Protecting Industry Integrity and Consumer Safety,” the public lecture is a call to action for the private sector to align with national goals under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
The manufacturing sector’s commitment is headlined by a coalition of industrial leaders, including Dairibord Zimbabwe Limited — the Gold Sponsor of the event — alongside other major corporate partners, National Foods, Afdis and Ganzim.
These organisations represent core pillars of the Zimbabwean manufacturing landscape.
National Foods produces a wide range of household essentials, from cereals, biscuits and pasta to staples such as mealie-meal, Mahatma Rice, Mr Rice and sugar beans, as well as critical stock feeds for the agricultural sector.
Similarly, Dairibord Zimbabwe is a pillar of the food and beverage industry, producing an extensive portfolio that includes fresh and sterilised milk, traditional beverages, yoghurts and ice creams. Afdis anchors the group as the nation’s primary manufacturer of local spirits and wines.
The public lecture was motivated by the need to protect consumers from the hidden dangers of the “grey market”.
National Foods said the company is supporting this counterfeit prevention workshop to safeguard industry integrity, protect consumer safety and ensure that authentic, quality products remain the trusted choice in the market.
The food manufacturer further stated that supporting the event is essential to preserving the integrity of the food supply, which is fundamental to public health and safety.
It warned that counterfeits pose significant risks, leading to potential health hazards, economic loss for legitimate businesses and lasting damage to established brands.
Dr Thomas Utete Ushe, the Permanent Secretary for Industry and Commerce, will deliver the keynote address, providing high level direction on the Government’s current regulatory blitz and the legislative frameworks being refined to protect the national fiscus and legitimate brands.
The programme is designed to be highly interactive, beginning with a keynote public lecture on Government initiatives and expectations for the private sector. This will be followed by an in depth panel discussion to unpack the nuances of industrial policy.
The session will conclude with a stakeholder commitment forum where industry captains and trade bodies will propose tangible solutions and commit to specific actions to sanitise the local market.
Beyond safety, the battle against counterfeits is an economic necessity, as the proliferation of substandard goods undermines the goals of the country’s industrialisation drive by diverting trade into informal, illicit channels that do not contribute to the national treasury.
By backing this initiative, Zimbabwe’s manufacturers are seeking to reclaim market share and ensure the country’s industrial base remains robust enough to compete within the 1,3 billion person African Continental Free Trade Area single market.-herald
