THE Government will this week start gazetting legal instruments to give effect to some of the business reforms recently announced by the Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi is on record saying the business regulatory reviews announced by Minister Ncube would not take effect until the supporting legal provisions have been enacted.
Minister Ziyambi clarified that, despite policy pronouncements reducing the cost of doing business, existing statutory fees, levies, and charges remain in effect until Parliament formally amends or repeals the governing laws.
In September, the Government embarked on a comprehensive review of business conditions reform to reduce the cost of doing business and streamline regulatory requirements.
Zimbabwe is targeting 12 key sectors for comprehensive business regulatory reforms to improve the ease and cost of doing business.
These reforms are being implemented in phases, with initial focus on the agriculture, retail, tourism and transport sectors.
The initiative is aimed at enhancing the profitability of businesses and stimulating economic activity by slashing fees and simplifying compliance to enhance the ease of doing business.
By tackling long-standing red tape, the Government seeks to create a modern and efficient business climate.
In an interview during the recently ended 2026 pre-budget Seminar in Bulawayo, Minister Ncube said individual ministries would soon begin to announce through specific structural instruments the new fees and procedures as announced.
“We have announced several measures to promote the ease of doing business, but there is no legal effect to that,” said Prof Ncube.
“In terms of legal effect to support the pronouncements I have made in terms of reducing the cost of doing business, these will start trickling from next week (this week).
“You will also see some of those included in the Finance Act proposals in the National Budget in November, and some of those will again be announced after the budget.
“So, you will see them being announced at different times as we go along.”
Prof Ncube said the process involves a lot of work, rules, and fees, so it cannot be done in one go.
“The Government will walk the talk and make sure that these fees support businesses to grow, because without growth we can’t support everybody and leave no one behind.”
Prof Ncube said the ease of doing business reforms were an ongoing programme, with the Government looking forward to starting to review business conditions for the energy sector after dealing with the agriculture sector, retail and wholesale, transport and tourism sectors.
The ongoing review of ease of business conditions will reduce structural cost pressures on companies and can lead to a boost in profitability and encourage more activity in the capital markets.-herald
