ZIMBABWEAN customers are facing serious challenges including issues of counterfeit products and financial instability as the country’s manufacturing sector remains stagnant, Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) director for policy advocacy, monitoring and evaluation, Patience Chikwiriro, has said.
Chikwiriro’s sentiments come at a time when stakeholders have flagged the proliferation of counterfeit goods on the Zimbabwean market, jeopardising people’s lives and disadvantaging industry.
The Standards Association of Zimbabwe recently called on companies to implement standardisation in their production processes amid a spike in the number of substandard products in the country.
Last month, the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) revealed that there was an influx of counterfeit products and smuggled goods on the local market.
Speaking at a panel discussion during the Banks and Banking Survey ceremony yesterday, organised by the Zimbabwe Independent in partnership with First Capital Bank, Chikwiriro said the year 2024 had been particularly challenging for consumers, with many struggling to access basic goods and services due to liquidity constraints.
“We have received numerous complaints about situations where people, instead of receiving their change, are forced to accept alternative items,” she said.
“For example, say of someone from Glen Norah has a dollar for a return trip into town and back home, but then the kombi crew does not have change. So she is forced to get a packet of pasta as change, and in the end has no money to go back home.”
She said this was particularly related to liquidity constraints, especially concerning the issue of change for transactions.
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“As consumers, due to the low disposable income prevalent in Zimbabwe, we are often forced to settle for whatever is available.
“We tend to overlook essential health issues, prioritising survival instead. This is, indeed, a significant concern. I am also passionate about the challenges facing the manufacturing sector.”
She said the manufacturing sector had not shown any signs of growth, according to the figures presented in the budgets.
“Growth has been around 1% since 2003, which speaks volumes about what we can offer our consumers in Zimbabwe in terms of production.
“We have also registered a substantial number of complaints regarding counterfeits. Why are consumers being exposed to counterfeits?
“This highlights the broader issues I am addressing: 2024 has been a particularly difficult year for us as consumers. The handling of counterfeits needs urgent attention, as it reflects the vulnerability of consumers.”
Chikwiriro called for urgent action against the prevalence of counterfeits on the market.
Meanwhile, Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries value chains and sector co-ordinator Kelvin Msipa has said business should brace for economic shocks as it operates in a volatile environment.
“Manufacturing companies, in particular, have faced a tough time since the 2024 budget allocation came with numerous structural changes and market equity has been scarce,” he said.
