Half of groceries sold by tuckshops, vending stalls are fake, unsafe for human consumption – govt finds

A SENIOR official from Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce has revealed that nearly 50% of groceries confiscated from tuck shops and vending stalls during a nationwide crackdown on counterfeit and smuggled goods are fake and potentially hazardous to health.

Douglas Runyowa, the ministry’s Chief Director for Commerce, shared these findings with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Industry and Commerce.posterRunyowa expressed grave concern over the alarming rise in counterfeit products flooding the market, particularly within the informal sector.

“What we’ve uncovered in the informal sector is deeply troubling. While these products may appear cheaper, they come at a significant cost to public health. Many of these items have not been certified as safe for human consumption by our health authorities,” he said.

Runyowa disclosed that a recent survey conducted by the ministry, in collaboration with the Standards Association of Zimbabwe, found that half of the products sold in informal retail shops failed to meet required standards.

“This is a fight that requires everyone’s involvement. The situation is dire, and we need to act decisively to protect consumers.“We purchased items directly from shelves and sent them for testing. The results were alarming—50% of the products were non-compliant. We’re talking about fake Vaseline, fake flour, fake rice, and even fake toothpaste. This is a serious public health concern,” he explained.The ongoing blitz against counterfeit and smuggled goods, which began last year, has already seen significant progress.

“Since October, we’ve ramped up our efforts, resulting in the seizure and destruction of tonnes of illicit goods. Just this afternoon, we destroyed approximately four tonnes of counterfeit products.

“We are committed to intensifying our efforts, but we need your backing to win this battle,” he said.

The surge in informal trading has had a detrimental effect on formal retail businesses, with many large supermarket chains reporting significant losses as more consumers turn to tuck shops for cheaper alternatives, some formal retailers have been forced to scale back operations or shut down entirely.High-density areas such as Mbare have been identified as the hotbeds of counterfeit goods that are flooding the markets.

Runyowa further said that there is a need for a balanced approach to address the issue.“While we must crack down on counterfeit goods, we also need to find ways to support formal businesses and ensure they remain competitive,” he said.

The ministry’s findings underscore the urgent need for stricter regulations and public awareness campaigns to combat the spread of counterfeit products and safeguard public health.