Lawmakers Demand Crackdown on Harmful Skin-Lightening Products

Calls for tighter control over Zimbabwe’s skin-lightening product market have intensified, with Parliament urging the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to enforce stricter regulations and harsher penalties against manufacturers and retailers selling banned or unsafe items.

During a parliamentary session this week, legislators raised the alarm over the increasing availability and use of unregulated skin-lightening creams, many of which contain harmful ingredients that pose serious health risks. Harare East MP Kevin Mutimbanyoka led the charge, condemning the widespread, illegal distribution of these products, which he said prey on vulnerable consumers seeking quick cosmetic changes.

Mutimbanyoka called for a multi-pronged strategy to clamp down on the trade, proposing tougher licensing requirements, more frequent inspections of manufacturers and sellers, and stronger partnerships with law enforcement to impose heavy fines and revoke licenses from violators.

“There must be meaningful consequences for those who profit from putting people’s health at risk,” he said, urging authorities to actively enforce product safety standards and take action against misleading advertising that plays on insecurities.

Masvingo South MP Tanatswa Mukomberi supported the call for reform, emphasizing the need for public education campaigns that celebrate natural skin tones and warn of the dangers linked to bleaching products. He expressed concern about the growing influence of social media, where some influencers promote skin-lightening without disclosing the associated risks, which include hormonal disruptions, skin damage, and even cancer.

Despite bans on dangerous substances such as hydroquinone, corticosteroids, and mercury, enforcement remains weak, allowing the market for harmful products to flourish. Lawmakers say the Ministry of Health and Child Care must play a more active role in strengthening oversight and protecting public health.

Although the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe and World Health Organization have both issued clear guidance on the dangers of these substances, the country still faces a troubling trend. According to recent data, 31.2% of Zimbabwean women use skin-lightening creams—highlighting both the urgency of stronger regulation and the need for a shift in societal attitudes toward beauty.

Legislators are calling not just for crackdowns but for a broader national conversation that challenges harmful beauty standards and promotes safer, more inclusive ideals.