The Zimbabwe Taxpayers Platform (ZITAP) conducted a national survey on taxation perceptions in Zimbabwe.
The report is planned for launch this week.
Don’t miss it!
Look out for the report that, among other things, seeks to stimulate fiscal and financial policy debate as Zimbabwe plans for the year 2026.
The survey will reveal three trends, that is;
1. To reveal the level of understanding of the citizens regarding the country’s tax regime.
2. To collect data on stakeholders’ perceptions and preferences regarding the country’s tax policy and system.
3. To produce knowledge that informs public policy and discussions around tax reform.
Data-driven policy formulation is crucial in development. For Zimbabwe, as the government moves on with its taxation reform and easing the cost of doing business. Hard data on people’s perceptions is crucial on such a hot subject as taxation. Our aim is to use this survey as a voice of the people on this subject.
Understanding taxpayers’ perceptions matters in determining the revenue collection potential and realities of national governments. Taxpayers’ perceptions bear on such variables as compliance, trust in government, and the fairness of the tax regime. Taxpayers’ surveys can reveal public perceptions of the revenue collection system and agency, the fiscal policy, and authorities, enhancing understanding of the revenue collection potential and policy reform areas.
Zimbabwe has recently embarked on a process to improve its tax administration system, including the adoption of a digital revenue collection platform, TaRMS (Sengere, 2025). Key stakeholders, including Members of Parliament, think-tanks, informal traders, and business apex organizations such as the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC), the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI), and the National Competitiveness Commission (NCC), have variously recommended reforming the country’s tax regime.
An opportunity exists to survey and amplify views from the citizens regarding the country’s tax regime. The paucity of such surveys in Zimbabwe is glaring, and this study is, to a large extent, expected to fill that crucial knowledge gap. The Zimbabwe Taxpayers Platform (ZITAP) intends to carry out a nationwide taxpayers’ perception survey (ZITAP-TPS-2025) of citizens and key stakeholders to inform current conversations on taxation in Zimbabwe.
The results are intended purely for policy purposes since ZITAP is part of a team of think-tanks rooting for Zimbabwe to attain an upper-middle-income status by 2030. This accelerated development requires tax revenues. Enhanced tax revenue hinges on compliance, especially the informal sector whose participation is estimated at around 67% by Purchasing Power Parity. This inquiry also seeks to understand the factors driving this compliance or otherwise. Fiscal contract theory posits that people pay taxes because they appreciate the benefits received in return. Since paying taxes involves sacrificing personal income for the public good, Chapter 17 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe becomes crucial.
Therefore, both the citizen-state relationship and the inter-citizen relationship significantly impact tax compliance. Enhancing voluntary compliance and public trust in the fiscal system hinges on a perceived fair and equitable design. Tax administration must deliver service-oriented taxpayer assistance, ensuring citizens have the necessary information and support to fulfil obligations and claim entitlements, crucial for systems fostering voluntary compliance.
Again, at this moment, it is crucial to emphasize that ZITAP’s interest, even within the framework of fair and easy taxation processes, is national development.
We look forward to sharing the report this week!