By ZITAP staff writer
This week, Zimbabwe gazetted Statutory Instrument (SI) 41 of 2026 (Model Fees By-Laws, 2026), which takes immediate effect and outlines several revised fees across various urban and rural local authorities. https://www.heraldonline.co.zw/ease-of-doing-business-milestone-compliance-fees-and-levies-review-takes-effect
There is no doubt on the excitement this sparks for business in Zimbabwe. TECA has been calling for these reforms as part of efforts to make Zimbabwe competitive https://tecazw.org/?p=961. Multiple and high taxes often dissuaded start-ups and new businesses from formally registering, hence contributing to a huge informal sector in Zimbabwe.
TECA celebrates this bold and unprecedent move by the government of Zimbabwe. As noted elsewhere, the government is also working on making the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), the local currency sound.
Policy actors often ask, are these reforms enough? Can we begin to celebrate?
Our view as an economic think-tank is to celebrate, and, at the same time, encourage the government to keep on opening up the economy. The advent of the African continental free trading area does not wait for Zimbabwe to reform or be strong. The Zimbabwean firms have to have the stamina to go out and compete on the continent. That is why we encourage the government to keep on reviewing its regulations and policies, and quickly review/remove the toxic ones.
It remains our firm view that a vibrant private sector-enabled economy, and, a small but efficient government is what Africa needs to improve its prosperity, and totally eliminate the current narrative of “migration” and or poverty!