More than 2 000 companies were dragged before the courts last year for violating consumer protection laws, following an intensification of inspections by authorities in response to rising public complaints. While serious offences such as the sale of counterfeit goods remain a concern, regulators say many cases involve routine compliance failures that are increasingly burdening small and informal traders.
Figures from the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) show that 12 627 inspections were conducted nationwide by the close of 2025. These checks resulted in 2 271 businesses being prosecuted for contravening the Consumer Protection Act (Chapter 14:44).
Enforcement efforts have been scaled up as Government moves to address unfair trading practices. Common violations include the sale of expired or underweight products and the failure to clearly display prices. Authorities say the rapid growth of the informal sector has also fuelled a rise in consumer complaints, particularly through social media channels.
CPC director for research and public affairs, Mr Kudakwashe Mudereri, said that although some cases involved serious consumer abuse, a significant number were linked to what he described as frequent but minor breaches of the law.
He explained that typical infringements include stocking expired goods, using illegal notices such as “No Refunds” or “No Returns”, failing to price goods properly, and trading in substandard or counterfeit products.
Mr Mudereri noted that many informal traders end up on the wrong side of the law due to limited knowledge of regulatory obligations, weak inventory control systems or financial constraints that make compliance challenging.
The CPC has also been working closely with the national anti-smuggling and business malpractices task force, deploying enforcement teams in all ten provinces to monitor adherence to consumer laws.
Several cases are currently before the courts, including matters involving businesses that refused to provide refunds — an offence under Sections 18, 34 and 42 of the Act — as well as incidents where expired products were confiscated in Masvingo.
Looking ahead, Mr Mudereri said the commission intends to complement enforcement with education initiatives aimed at reducing repeat violations, especially among small and emerging enterprises.
He said the CPC would this year intensify efforts to curb consumer fraud while promoting greater accountability among traders, with expanded education programmes for both consumers and businesses.
The commission has broadened its outreach activities to cover urban and rural areas, targeting young people, senior citizens, marginalised communities and persons with disabilities. The programme is also designed to help traders better understand their legal responsibilities and avoid penalties linked to minor but costly compliance lapses.
Mr Mudereri said the CPC would continue collaborating with businesses, consumer groups and other regulatory bodies as part of a whole-of-Government strategy to promote fairness and transparency in the marketplace.
“Our responsibility is to shield consumers from unfair or deceptive practices, while supporting a business environment that is open, compliant and sustainable,” he said.
