The Zimbabwe Taxpayers Platform (ZITAP) joins the country in celebrating the 45th independence anniversary which was officially celebrated on 18 April 2025. The day is a reminder of the values defining our country and society. Central to the dream of independence was the desire to realise economic prosperity and freedom for the majority.
The day comes as the country still needs to make progress in entrenching economic freedom. Global economic freedom indices show the country lags with the Fraser Institute ranking it 164 out of 165 countries in the Economic Freedom of the World: 2024 Annual Report.
Corruption also needs to be tackled with the country ranked 158 out of 180 countries on the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) in 2024. While we welcome the formation of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), ZITAP calls for strengthening its independence from political influence and capacitating it to deal with high-profile corruption cases.
A key issue that inspired the liberation struggle was the need to reduce high taxes and the burden they placed on citizens.
ZITAP reiterates that high taxation remains a concern as the government has recently been hiking taxes. While the indications by the finance minister Mthuli Ncube during the post-budget meetings in December 2024 of government plans to review the country’s tax regime are welcome, ZITAP calls for broad-based and well-publicised consultations.