ZIMBABWE has been elected vice-chairperson of the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) Council, reflecting growing confidence among fellow African tax administrations in the country’s contribution to regional tax cooperation and efforts to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation.
Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) Commissioner-General, Ms Regina Chinamasa, will assume the role, deputising Namibia Revenue Agency Commissioner Mr Sam Shivute, who chairs the council after being elected at the 9th ATAF General Assembly held on Wednesday last week in Cairo, Egypt, alongside the 2026 ATAF Annual Meetings.
The council includes representatives from South Africa, Egypt, Benin, The Gambia, Gabon, Tanzania, Mauritius and Zambia, while ATAF executive secretary Ms Mary Baine serves as an ex officio member.
Responding to questions from this publication, Ms Chinamasa said she was thankful to ATAF for the honour and the opportunity to be part of the continental drive to improve tax administration in Africa.
“Zimbabwe looks forward to contributing to ATAF’s continental leadership in advancing domestic resource mobilisation, strengthening tax administrations and facilitating trade across Africa.
“The election reflects the confidence of fellow African tax administrations in Zimbabwe’s contribution to tax cooperation.
ATAF has 45 member countries. Its 2026 to 2028 Council comprises 11 members, including 10 country representatives and Executive Secretary Ms Mary Baine, who serves ex officio,” she said.
“The council provides strategic leadership and oversight, guiding the Forum’s priorities and ensuring its programmes respond to members’ needs.
“These priorities include encouraging member countries to adopt the ATAF Agreement on Mutual Assistance in Tax Matters (AMATM) and supporting members on the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT).”
She said the election strengthens Zimbabwe’s voice in Africa’s tax leadership and provides a platform to bring the country’s perspectives and priorities into continental discussions.
Ms Chinamasa said Zimbabwe will use this role to deepen cooperation with other tax administrators and contribute to African approaches to the revenue challenges facing the continent.
“At home, stronger domestic revenue mobilisation is essential to financing infrastructure, public services and national development priorities under Vision 2030.
“Zimbabwe’s participation in ATAF’s leadership supports this national imperative by strengthening engagement on the tax administration reforms needed to broaden the revenue base and improve revenue collection,” she added.
“Zimbabwe is also expected to host the ATAF Annual Meetings in November 2027, bringing approximately 400 delegates to the country. The gathering will provide an opportunity to showcase Zimbabwe’s tax administration reforms and deepen engagement with African counterparts and partners.”
She said Zimbabwe has previously held a leadership position on the ATAF council in 2014, when then ZIMRA Commissioner General Mr Gershem Pasi was elected chairperson at ATAF’s Third General Assembly in Tanzania.
Ms Chinamasa said her election marks Zimbabwe’s return to the council’s leadership, this time as vice-chairperson, which reflects the country’s continued contribution to African tax cooperation.
“During the term, Zimbabwe will contribute to the Council’s collective priorities and advocate for modern, efficient and inclusive tax administrations.
“Areas of focus will include broadening tax bases, strengthening compliance and improving domestic revenue mobilisation. Modernising systems and using data and technology more effectively to improve efficiency, compliance management and taxpayer services,” she said.
“It will also include strengthening cooperation on cross-border tax audits, exchange of information and other international tax matters. Building institutional capacity and advancing women’s leadership and professional development in tax administration.”
She said at the national level, ZIMRA’s wider modernisation work spans tax and customs operations, supporting revenue protection and the facilitation of legitimate trade.
Ms Chinamasa said she will also serve on the board of the ATAF Women in Tax Network (AWITN), while ATAF has provided ZIMRA with technical assistance, specialised training, research and peer learning tailored to the administration’s needs.
“This support has helped build capacity to address complex tax risks and strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation. Examples include support for developing ZIMRA’s exchange-of-information function and the legal framework for requesting tax information from other jurisdictions; transfer pricing training.
“A 2024 study that helped Zimbabwe develop criteria for identifying high-net-worth individuals for tax compliance work. ATAF has also supported work on tax treaty negotiations, telecommunications-sector audits, gender and taxation, and the taxation of e-commerce and the wider digital economy,” she added.
“It supported Zimbabwe’s process towards joining the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters (MAAC), a separate instrument from ATAF’s own mutual assistance agreement.”
She said Zimbabwe has also contributed to ATAF by seconding experts and hosting continental engagements, including the Continental Exchange of Information Conference held in Victoria Falls in October 2026.
Ms Chinamasa said ATAF’s work has produced measurable results across member countries, while in 2025, ATAF supported audit interventions that generated US$907.8 million in tax assessments, of which US$685.8 million was collected.
“ATAF brings tax administration expertise into African governments’ engagement in negotiations on the United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation. It supports regional coordination and technical input, while governments determine their own negotiating positions.
“This work aligns with the Sevilla Commitment, adopted at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in 2025, which calls for stronger domestic resource mobilisation as part of development finance,” she said.
“Through technical assistance, capacity building and cooperation, ATAF supports members to strengthen their tax systems and advance that priority.”
ATAF is Africa’s premier body for tax administrations that brings together revenue authorities from across the continent to set the agenda on how Africa taxes, how it stops illicit financial flows, how it deals with multinational companies, and how it modernises customs and border systems.
For years, African countries have complained that global tax rules are made in Paris, Washington and London – often without Africa at the table. ATAF is Africa’s collective voice in those debates.-herald
