President Emmerson Mnangagwa has instructed government ministries and departments to cut down on excessive levies, permits, and licence fees that are making it harder—and more expensive—to do business in Zimbabwe.
This move, announced by Information Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere during Tuesday’s post-Cabinet briefing, forms part of a broader plan to make the country more business-friendly across 12 key sectors. These include health, agriculture, retail, tourism, energy, transport, telecommunications, manufacturing, construction, liquor, financial services, and broadcasting.
Dr Muswere said Cabinet had officially approved the start of this reform process, which follows Mnangagwa’s earlier directive to address the high costs of setting up and running a business in Zimbabwe. The President reportedly expressed concern that businesses were being squeezed by excessive fees and red tape from multiple government bodies.
“Cabinet considered and approved the review of levies, licences, fees and permits on business by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government. His Excellency, the President, Dr ED Mnangagwa, at the beginning of the year, highlighted the high level of levies, licences, fees and permits raising the cost of doing business in Zimbabwe,” said Dr Muswere.
The findings from a recent government study back this up. According to Dr Muswere, the review revealed that many businesses are being forced to apply for several fragmented licences just to operate—often from different regulators. This duplication adds not only to costs but also to bureaucracy, causing unnecessary delays and confusion.
To fix this, the government has now tasked the Finance Ministry, working with the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet and other ministries, to lead a detailed sector-by-sector review of all these charges. The goal is to eliminate duplication, simplify the licensing process, and reduce costs. Business groups will also be consulted to ensure the review is grounded in real-world concerns.
The process will follow a 100-day “Accelerator Model” cycle, with clear timelines and deliverables. Once the review is done and recommendations agreed upon, they’ll be submitted to Cabinet for approval. Any changes will then be implemented through amendments to the law or official regulations.
Dr Muswere said the broader aim is to reduce the regulatory burden on Zimbabweans and businesses alike, strengthen the country’s global competitiveness, attract more investors, and ultimately drive job creation and economic growth. All this is expected to contribute to the country’s Vision 2030 goals.
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