Four of Zimbabwe’s leading authorised lubricant distributors have issued a joint condemnation of a “sophisticated, industry-wide crisis” of counterfeit oils, warning the fake products are causing severe mechanical damage and costing motorists and businesses “thousands of dollars.”
In a joint press statement release this week, Caltex distributor Braford Lubricants, Castrol, HP Lubes and FUCHS said they were speaking out to address what they called a predatory trade threatening both legitimate businesses and the public.
“As the authorized distributors of premium global lubricant brands in Zimbabwe, we are issuing this joint statement to strongly condemn the surge of counterfeit oils in the domestic market,” the distributors said in a statement.
The companies said the problem “is not isolated to any single brand” and described it as “a sophisticated, industry-wide crisis that threatens legitimate businesses and the Zimbabwean public.”
According to the statement, counterfeiters are repackaging cheap products in genuine containers and selling them as premium brands.
“Counterfeit lubricants are often cheap, low-grade base oils packaged as genuine premium lubricants. This predatory practice also involves criminal networks systematically collecting branded containers, filling them with low-quality, substandard products, and passing them on to the unsuspecting general public, mechanics, end users, and corporate buyers as authentic lubricants,” the statement read.
The distributors outlined four key risks to the economy. They warned of “Severe Mechanical Damage,” noting that “fake oils lack essential protective additives, leading to immediate engine overheating, premature component wear, and catastrophic mechanical failure.” They also flagged “Massive Financial Losses,” saying “unsuspecting motorists, transport operators, and industrial players face thousands of dollars in avoidable repair bills and unplanned downtime.”
On the business impact, the statement cited “Unfair Market Competition,” arguing that “illicit traders evade regulatory taxes, quality controls, and compliance costs, creating an unequal playing field that damages legitimate businesses.” Finally, they pointed to an “Erosion of Trust,” stating that “these substandard products erode hard-earned public confidence in reputable global brands and authorized retail networks.”
The four companies said they are “working closely with regulatory authorities to track, raid, and prosecute those manufacturing, importing, or selling fake lubricants.”
They also urged consumers and corporate buyers to take precautions to avoid fake products. The distributors advised the public to “Buy Only from Authorised Sources” by purchasing lubricants exclusively from authorised dealers, branded service stations, recognised franchise dealerships, and certified or recommended retail partners.
Consumers were also told to “Inspect Packaging Closely” and to look for broken tamper-proof caps, poorly aligned labels, faded print quality, or a lack of clear batch numbers and production dates.
Lastly, they warned to “Beware of Unrealistic Prices,” adding: “If a premium oil brand is being sold at a price that seems too good to be true, it is almost certainly a counterfeit.”
The distributors called on those involved in the trade to stop immediately.
“We call upon all manufacturers, blenders, and distributors of counterfeit products to immediately desist from these criminal activities,” they said.
They also appealed to the public to report suspicious activity.
“To the general public and our corporate partners: Your vigilance is our strongest weapon. We encourage anyone with information regarding the manufacturing, packaging, warehousing, or retail distribution of counterfeit lubricants to immediately report these illegal operations to the police or directly to authorized brand representatives,” the statement said.
The companies concluded: “Together, we can purge these dangerous products from our markets and protect the integrity of the Zimbabwean automotive and industrial sectors.”
