Harare Firm Fined US$300 For Selling Fake Pearlenta Maize Meal

A Harare business has been fined US$300 after it was caught selling counterfeit maize meal falsely labelled as a leading local brand.

Natbase Investments (Private) Limited, represented in court by 42-year-old Blessed Marewo, was convicted by Harare magistrate Gamuchirai Gore and ordered to pay the fine by the end of August.

The case arose following a string of complaints lodged with National Foods Limited between May and June 2025, with customers reporting poor quality maize meal sold under the Pearlenta brand. Many noted the product was unusually dark and inconsistent in texture.

In response, a joint investigation was launched by National Foods, the Trade Measures Inspectorate, the Consumer Protection Commission, and the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

The operation led authorities to Natbase Investments’ premises in Harare’s central business district.

Officials seized ten 10kg bags of the suspicious Pearlenta-branded meal, which were later confirmed to be counterfeit and underweight.

Tests revealed the bags averaged just under 9.7kg, falling short of the declared 10kg.

The court found that the company had no lawful basis for its conduct and determined that it had deliberately misled consumers.

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