Tinotenda Hove- The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) has intensified calls for the introduction of a dedicated Anti-Counterfeit Act after fake products emerged as the country’s biggest consumer protection challenge.

According to the council, counterfeit goods now account for the majority of complaints lodged by consumers, raising serious concerns over public health, consumer safety and the impact on legitimate businesses.

CCZ Chief Executive Officer Rose Mpofu said the organisation is pushing for stronger legislation that specifically targets counterfeit products, arguing that existing laws are no longer sufficient to tackle the growing problem.

“The 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,” said Mpofu.

“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.”

Statistics released by the council show that it received 2,022 consumer complaints during the first quarter of 2026, with the figure rising to 3,503 in the second quarter. More than half of those complaints involved counterfeit products.

The council also identified online scams and misleading digital advertisements as the second-largest source of complaints, saying criminals are increasingly exploiting online platforms to trick unsuspecting consumers.

Mpofu said a dedicated anti-counterfeit law would establish a specialised authority responsible for preventing the manufacture, distribution and sale of fake goods while strengthening enforcement against offenders.

She said such legislation would also help protect consumers from unsafe products, create a fair trading environment and reduce financial losses suffered by legitimate manufacturers and retailers.

The CCZ has urged shoppers to exercise caution by purchasing products from trusted retailers, carefully checking packaging and labels, and treating unusually cheap prices as a warning sign.

“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,” Mpofu said.

“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.”

As part of its efforts to combat counterfeit trade, the Consumer Council has introduced the CCZ Verified digital platform, which allows consumers to scan products and instantly verify whether they are genuine.

The platform provides information such as the manufacturer’s details, production information and batch numbers, while counterfeit products are automatically flagged as unauthorised or unrecognised.

The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe is mandated to safeguard consumer rights through complaint resolution, public education, market research and advocacy for stronger consumer protection laws while promoting fair trading practices across the country.