Harare Correspondent
HARARE – The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ), in partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, has unveiled a new technological initiative to combat the flood of counterfeit products devastating local markets and endangering public health.
The initiative centers on a CCZ-developed Quick Response (QR) code system designed to empower consumers to instantly verify a product’s authenticity.
Speaking at the Consumer Affairs and Anti-Counterfeit Workshop, CCZ Chief Executive Officer Rosemary Mpofu announced the conclusion of the pilot phase and the imminent launch of the ‘CCZ Verified’ platform.
“Now we are at a stage that we have concluded the piloting stage and we are now going to be launching the CCZ Verified platform, which will enable consumers to scan the products to see whether they are authentic or they are counterfeits,” she said.
Mpofu urged all manufacturers to collaborate with the CCZ on the project and detailed the simple process for consumers:
“So what the consumer simply does is with their phone they can scan the product, either using WhatsApp or the QR code, and it just shows you, it takes you right to the factory where you can see that indeed this product is genuine. If it is a fake product, it will tell you that this is a fake product.”
The scourge of counterfeits spans critical sectors like pharmaceuticals, electronics, and food, posing severe health risks and undermining the formal economy. The retail sector, a key pillar contributing 11.5% to Zimbabwe’s GDP, has been particularly hard hit, with local manufacturers suffering significant losses to profitability and competitiveness.
In response, the government is developing two key policy instruments. Wilson Gowora, an economist with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, outlined the strategic approach.
“We have the Retail and Wholesale Sector Policy, which will provide a strategic framework for sector modernization, regulatory coherence, and inclusive growth. We also have the Consumer Protection Policy, which will consolidate our national approach to safeguarding consumer rights,” Gowora stated.
He emphasized that these policies, developed with stakeholders, aim to align Zimbabwe’s market with international best practices and build a trusted, ethical retail environment.
“Ethical retail is not just about avoiding penalties. It is about building a brand that consumers trust and a market that investors respect. As a government, we remain committed to supporting this sector through clear policy, robust enforcement, and collaborative engagement,” Gowora added.
Ministry officers are already being deployed nationwide to work with the Consumer Protection Commission to operationalize these commitment.
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