Mukudzei Chingwere in GOKWE
GOVERNMENT wants consumer protection services brought closer to rural communities so that where a person lives, or how much they earn, does not determine their access to protection against dishonest traders and unsafe products, Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga has said.
Addressing the Second Annual Consumer Conference in Gokwe yesterday, VP Chiwenga said consumers in smaller towns and rural districts must enjoy the same rights as those in Harare and Bulawayo.
The thrust places household welfare at the centre of Government’s economic development agenda, recognising that increased production and investment must be accompanied by safeguards for the people buying goods and services.
“Consumers in Gokwe, Nkayi, Binga, Chiredzi or Chisumbanje must enjoy the same rights as those in Harare or Bulawayo,” he said.
“Consumer rights must be tangible and easily accessible, regardless of where a person lives or their economic circumstances.”
VP Chiwenga said consumer rights must be practical and accessible regardless of location or economic circumstances, directing the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) to move closer to communities in line with Government’s devolution programme.
For a household operating on a limited budget, an unsafe product or an unresolved complaint can mean losing money needed for food, transport or other essentials. Bringing regulators closer to communities would help make protection more accessible to people who face difficulties pursuing complaints far from home.
VP Chiwenga said Government’s industrialisation, investment and value addition priorities must deliver benefits that people can experience in their daily lives.
“Under the Second Republic, Government remains committed to economic transformation through industrialisation, investment, value addition, beneficiation, innovation, and inclusive growth. These priorities must translate into tangible improvements in the lives of our people,” he said.
The approach reflects a broader international recognition that consumer protection contributes to development by building trust and supporting fair competition.
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) links its work on competition and consumer protection to inclusive economic growth and sustainable development, emphasising markets in which people can trust their purchases and pay fair prices for essential goods and services.
In financial services, the World Bank similarly identifies strong consumer protection as a means of building trust, helping people make informed decisions and supporting healthy, competitive markets. It describes financial consumer protection as contributing to financial inclusion and broader economic growth.
For Zimbabwe, the economic importance is clear: when consumers have confidence that goods are safe and complaints will be addressed, responsible businesses have a better opportunity to compete on quality and service.
VP Chiwenga said the Government intended to strengthen the CPC’s enforcement capacity through a proposed reallocation of resources and staff currently supporting the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe.
He stressed that stronger enforcement would support, rather than weaken, consumer education and advocacy.
“Ultimately, the objective is to build a fair, transparent, competitive and trusted marketplace in which businesses compete on quality, innovation and integrity, and consumers can have confidence that their rights are effectively protected,” he said.
Other jurisdictions offer examples of how consumer rights can be backed by accessible institutions and practical remedies.
In South Africa’s Western Cape, the Office of the Consumer Protector receives complaints and can bring consumer cases before a dedicated Consumer Tribunal. The provincial arrangement illustrates how protection can be delivered below national level.
Australia’s consumer protection system provides remedies, including repairs, replacements or refunds, where goods or services fail to meet applicable consumer guarantees, with the remedy depending on the nature of the failure.
These examples underline the importance of giving consumers a workable route to redress alongside information about their rights.
VP Chiwenga also called for coordinated surveillance involving the CPC, Standards Association of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, police and local authorities to identify risks and act before more consumers suffer harm.
“Information-sharing, joint operations and clear accountability must become routine features of our enforcement response,” he said.
Businesses were urged to treat complaints as information that could improve their products and services, while consumers were encouraged to retain proof of purchase and report unfair practices.
“As I conclude, let us remember that an Empowered and Prosperous Upper-Middle-Income Economy must also be an economy with empowered consumers,” said VP Chiwenga.
Minister of Industry and Commerce Mangaliso Ndhlovu said the dangers consumers face from counterfeit and unsafe goods are strongly reinforced by the realities they are confronting at ground level.
He said this is not just a matter of business losses or intellectual property; it is a consumer protection, public health, and economic governance challenge. At the retail level, industry estimates that counterfeit and illicit products cause annual losses of about US$1.2 billion.
In 2025 alone, Minister Ndhlovu said the Consumer Protection Commission inspected 54 443 businesses, removed 86 962 non-compliant products, and secured 5 656 prosecutions.
Of particular concern were counterfeit automotive products, including fake brake fluid, highlighting the real risks to lives, safety and market integrity.
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