Source: Consumer Protection Policy set to tighten market standards – herald
Business Reporter
Zimbabwe is moving to strengthen consumer protection as authorities seek to raise market standards and promote ethical business practices.
The Consumer Protection Policy (CPC) (2026-2030) is expected to improve enforcement, consumer awareness and compliance across the economy.
CPC in Zimbabwe is tightening standards and enforcing rules under the Consumer Protection Policy (2026–2030) to eliminate counterfeit and unsafe goods, stop unfair trade practices and build market trust to boost overall economic growth.
The interventions will remove dangerous, low-quality and counterfeit items from local shops, make consumers feel safe, encourage them to buy more and help local businesses to grow.
It will also stop dishonest traders from cheating customers and gaining an unfair edge over honest businesses and improve the quality of local goods to compete in regional markets like SADC and COMESA.
The policy comes as digital commerce, cross-border trade and complex supply chains create new risks for consumers.
The operationalisation of the Consumer Protection Policy (2026-2030) is gathering momentum, with authorities calling for greater adherence to standards and ethical business practices to keep substandard, counterfeit and unsafe goods out of the market.
The commission said the policy seeks to create a marketplace in which consumers are better protected while businesses are encouraged to produce and supply quality goods and services.
CPC chief executive Professor Zororo Muranda said effective consumer protection was critical to sustaining economic growth because it builds confidence in the marketplace.
“Consumer protection is not anti-protection; it is pro-growth. A protected consumer is a confident consumer, and a confident consumer drives demand, drives industry and drives national prosperity,” he said.
Professor Muranda said stronger consumer protection would also support industry and commerce by improving investor confidence and creating conditions for sustainable growth.
“In this context, the mandate of the Consumer Protection Commission, as established under the Consumer Protection Act (Chapter 14:44), becomes even more critical,” he said.
Retailer Mr Kelvin Mombe said the policy could help create a more level playing field for compliant businesses by ensuring that traders who cut corners do not gain an unfair advantage. “Retailers who invest in quality products and comply with regulations need an environment where those standards are respected across the market. Stronger enforcement can help remove substandard goods while also improving consumer confidence in legitimate businesses,” he said.
Mr Mombe said consumer awareness should complement enforcement because informed customers were better positioned to identify poor-quality products and demand value for their money.
Lawyer Danai Juru said effective implementation would be important to ensure that consumer rights translated into practical protection rather than remaining confined to legislation and policy documents.
“The success of the policy will ultimately depend on enforcement, accessibility of remedies and consumer awareness. Consumers need to know their rights, while businesses need clarity on their obligations and the consequences of non-compliance,” she said.
Ms Juru said a predictable enforcement framework would also benefit businesses because it would establish clearer standards of conduct and reduce unfair competition.
The Consumer Protection Policy is aligned with the National Development Strategy 2, which seeks to promote inclusive growth and create a favourable environment for consumers and businesses.
Authorities expect the policy to strengthen inspection and enforcement mechanisms while expanding consumer education.
The broader objective is to establish a safer, fairer and more competitive marketplace where businesses compete on quality and consumers can make informed purchasing decisions.
As Zimbabwe seeks to deepen economic growth, stronger consumer protection is therefore being positioned not merely as a regulatory requirement, but as part of efforts to improve market confidence, encourage responsible business conduct and support sustainable industry development.
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