THE Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) is urging a collaborative law enforcement effort to tackle the rising trade of counterfeit electronics nationwide.
The sale of counterfeit electronics is becoming increasingly brazen, with vendors operating in broad daylight in central business districts across the country.
In a letter to the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Harare Metropolitan Province Commander, Commissioner Maxwell Chikunguru, CZR president Dr Denford Mutashu warned that the issue had reached alarming levels.
The illicit trade, he said, was undermining consumer protection and fair business practices.
“Representing the formal retail and wholesale industry in Zimbabwe, the CZR is alarmed by the growing trend of counterfeit and deceitfully marketed electronic goods, which not only undermine legitimate businesses but also jeopardize consumer trust and safety,” he said.
“We are writing to formally request your urgent intervention and collaboration in conducting a multi-agency enforcement operation targeting these illegal activities, which have reached alarming levels and are undermining the integrity of the retail sector, defrauding unsuspecting consumers and weakening regulatory compliance.”
He said CZR had not only received widespread reports from affected consumers and retailers, but that some of its officials had witnessed the fraudulent practices first hand.
Dr Mutashu said a cellphone bought from a store in central Harare malfunctioned within days of use.
“Attempts to seek a refund or replacement proved futile, with the seller becoming evasive and belligerent, clearly demonstrating the impunity with which these shops operate.
“This single case is a microcosm of the daily exploitation faced by hundreds of Zimbabwean consumers,” he said.
He said the sellers of the counterfeit goods were misrepresenting refurbished or used devices as brand new, violating intellectual property laws and evading tax obligations.
In addition, the operators do not issue receipts for a sale or use registered trading names.
Since the traders operate outside consumer protection and telecommunications regulatory frameworks, they often have no traceable physical or legal identity.
Dr Mutashu said the implications were far-reaching, with legitimate retailers facing unfair competition from unscrupulous operators, while the Government was losing significant potential revenue due to tax leakages.
Unsuspecting consumers, who are at the mercy of these unscrupulous retailers, are left without any avenues for recourse.
