Oliver Kazunga-Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWE is losing an estimated US$1,2 billion annually due to counterfeit and smuggled goods, Permanent Secretary for Industry and Commerce Dr Thomas Utete Wushe has said.
The figure highlights the challenge authorities face in combating the scourge of substandard products, having intercepted over 200 million units between 2016 and last year.
In response to this, the Government introduced the Consignment Based Conformity Assessment (CBCA) programme in 2016 as a pre-shipment verification system.
The initiative aims to ensure that selected imported goods comply with national quality and safety standards before entering the country.
It forms part of broader efforts by the Second Republic to restrict the influx of counterfeits, enhance consumer protection, curb unfair trade practices and safeguard fiscal revenues.
Speaking at a public lecture on the scourge of counterfeit products organised by Zimpapers in Harare last week, Dr Utete Wushe said counterfeits deprived the country of revenues.
“Zimbabwe is losing approximately US$1,2 billion annually to counterfeit trade, which deprives the State of vital customs duties, Value Added Tax, and corporate taxes.
“Counterfeit products undermine legitimate businesses, create unfair competition, and expose consumers to serious health and safety risks,” he said.
The range of blocked counterfeits and substandard products includes foodstuffs, electronics, automobile parts, and pharmaceuticals.
Dr Utete Wushe spoke about the scale of this issue, adding that the global counterfeit market is valued at an estimated US$467 billion.
In Zimbabwe, the counterfeit market undermines domestic industrial capacity by creating unwarranted competition and distracting from the Government’s national development agenda.
The Second Republic aims to achieve an upper middle-income economy status by 2030, anchored by the National Development Strategy 1 and 2, which focuses on boosting industrial production capacity.
Dr Utete Wushe noted that as efforts to industrialise and grow exports accelerate, effective quality control mechanisms like the CBCA programme remain vital for building consumer confidence, promoting fair trade and positioning local industries for sustainable growth.
Under the CBCA framework, regulated products must undergo testing, inspection and certification in the country of origin, receiving a Certificate of Conformity before shipment.
One company contracted by the Government for the CBCA programme, Bureau Veritas, a French-based entity, reported last Friday that over 200 million units of substandard and counterfeit products have been blocked from entering the country since 2016.
The company’s East and Southern Africa contracts manager, Mr Tendai Malunga, said Bureau Veritas has been instrumental in supporting the Government with initiatives that strengthen the national quality infrastructure policy.
“As Bureau Veritas, we are proud to be associated with such an important initiative to inhibit the influx and adverse effects of counterfeit and substandard products.
“Between 2016 and 2025, we have been instrumental in blocking more than 200 million units of substandard products through the CBCA trade facilitation programme,” he said.
Mr Malunga said blocking these products was not just about protecting brand names, but about ensuring public safety, economic integrity and national values.
“Counterfeit goods pose a severe threat to public health and safety. For example, fake electronics can explode, fake car parts can fail during critical moments, and fake pharmaceuticals may contain harmful, inactive, or toxic ingredients.
“When we allow counterfeits into our marketplace, we are putting our families and communities at risk,” he warned.
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