By Chantelle T Muzanenhamo
Zimbabwean lawmakers have expressed serious concerns over the rising use of skin-lightening products among both men and women.
During a parliamentary debate on Wednesday, MPs called for stricter laws to control the importation and sale of these creams. The debate was centered around a motion introduced by Harare East MP Kiven Mutimbanyoka, advocating for legislative reforms regarding the sale and distribution of skin-lightening products.
Several MPs urged the government to enforce tighter restrictions and impose harsher penalties on vendors selling these products. Midlands MP Perseviarance Zhou emphasized the urgent need for public education on the health risks associated with skin-lightening creams.
“I’m imploring this august house to come up with a very concrete programme together with the ministry of health to teach people about the dangers of using lightening creams. The education must include both men and women,” she stated
Zhou highlighted that women face particularly severe health complications.
“From my research, the use of these creams is dangerous, especially for women. It can cause permanent complications, particularly when one wants to conceive. The danger of using lightening creams is that when someone is hurt and there is need for stitching, the skin will now be too delicate,” she noted.
Mt Darwin MP Barbra Thompson echoed these concerns, saying the products are causing havoc in communities and need to be addressed through new legislation.
Murehwa North MP Noah Mangondo pointed out that despite existing laws, such as Statutory Instrument 216 of 2019, harmful skin-lightening products remain widely available.
He blamed weak enforcement and called for better coordination between agencies like ZIMRA, the Medicines Control Authority, and the Health Ministry to curb the inflow of banned creams into stores.
Meanwhile, people criticize the move, claiming that we have other societal problems that require more urgent attention, and that the MPs are focusing too much on rare skin bleaching products.