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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 28408, member: 2262"] Zimbabwe teams up with nearby countries to fight fake products better. Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu believes sharing information works best. His deputy, Raj Modi, spoke for him at a recent event. The minister said fighting fake goods requires everyone's cooperation through groups like SADC and COMESA. Without teamwork, fake stuff continues to cross borders easily. Yesterday, the government met with business leaders to discuss problems caused by fake products. The Ministry and National Economic Consultative Forum organized this meeting about stopping counterfeits to help grow the economy. Minister Ndlovu pointed out that smugglers bring fake products across borders, making this a problem for the whole area. Officials have already checked more than 1,400 businesses. Those breaking the rules either got help fixing problems or faced legal trouble. Authorities grabbed over 2,000 items that failed to meet requirements. They set up phone lines for complaints in every province. Plans exist to make these calls free for people reporting problems. The government worries about many sources of fake goods. Some come from small backyard factories. Others copy local products with fake packaging. Many sneak across borders from nearby nations. These fakes hurt local companies because they lose sales to cheap knockoffs. Informal sellers offer low prices because they avoid paying taxes. Many fakes use the wrong packaging or have no labels at all, which tricks buyers who need protection. Counterfeit items are sold mostly in unregistered shops and street markets. Popular fakes include fancy products, food, drinks, electronics, and medicines. The minister asked businesses to focus on making quality products and following ethical practices. He warned shoppers about super cheap products in street markets. These often have hidden problems buyers discover much later. All that glitters is not gold, he reminded everyone. Deputy Chief Secretary Amos Marawa added that illegal trade hurts local factories, cuts tax money, and puts customers at risk. [/QUOTE]

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