The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has arrested a Harare woman accused of repackaging sugar into bags bearing counterfeit Tongaat Hulett branding.
Spiwe Mutandwa was arrested on Saturday following a raid at a house in Southlea Park, where investigators allegedly discovered a large quantity of sugar and equipment believed to have been used in the repackaging operation.
ZACC spokesperson Simiso Mlevu said officers found a truck carrying more than 3 600 kilogrammes of sugar packed in 2kg bags with fake Tongaat Hulett labels.
A weighing scale and other packaging equipment were also recovered during the operation.
The truck, sugar and packaging materials were seized and will be presented as exhibits in the case.
“Mutandwa is facing charges of fraud and violating the prohibition on the forgery of registered trademarks, as outlined in Section 84(1)(b) of the Trade Marks Act [Chapter 26:04]. The accused is expected to appear at the Harare Magistrates’ Court on 31 August 2026.
“ZACC warns criminal-minded people against repackaging consumable products in fake-branded bags and selling them as genuine products. It also urges Zimbabweans to always buy from registered retailers and to check packaging for tampering, spelling errors, and proper seals,” said Ms Mlevu.
The arrest comes as authorities step up efforts to crack down on counterfeit products and fraudulent trading practices that can expose consumers to potentially unsafe goods.
Mutandwa is expected to appear in court on August 31, where she will face the charges brought against her.