Zimbabwe has eliminated or significantly reduced 96 regulatory fees in the livestock, dairy and stockfeed sectors to enhance ease of doing business, according to a review of levies, licences, fees and permits for the agriculture sector by the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industry.
As part of reforms to improve the ease of doing business, the Government is implementing strategic business regulatory and licensing reforms to eliminate unjustifiable costs that have long stifled business growth and investment.
It is expected that the improved business conditions will attract investment, encourage formalisation and bolster the competitiveness of local industries.
This comes after President Mnangagwa last year directed his administration to undertake a comprehensive review of licenses, permits, levies and fees by the first quarter of 2026 to slash costs and improve the ease of doing business in the country.
Zimbabwe’s business regulatory reforms primarily target agriculture (livestock/dairy), tourism, transport and wholesale/retail sectors.
Agriculture is the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy, contributing at least 12 percent of gross domestic product and providing livelihoods for over 60-70 percent of the population, particularly in rural areas
It is crucial for food security, supplying roughly 60 percent of raw materials for the manufacturing sector and generating about 30 percent of total export earnings, led by tobacco.
CZI noted that of the 96 regulation fees reviewed, 34 had been eliminated entirely while 45 others saw costs slashed by between 13 percent and 99 percent, the review by the industry lobby group said.
AMA farm registration now costs a symbolic US$1 flat fee, replacing the previous sliding scale of US$1 to US$5.
Registration certificate fees have been entirely abolished for smallholder farmers, while medium and large-scale operators now pay a simplified US$50 flat rate.
The cost to enter the dairy value chain has plummeted, with the processor license slashed from US$350 to a one-time fee of US$50.
Manufacturers of livestock feed now pay a US$20 flat fee for registration, a massive reduction from the previous range of US$150–$250.
The Government has overhauled livestock transit fees; instead of a prohibitive US$10 per animal, farmers now pay a flat US$5 per herd, drastically lowering the cost of taking cattle to market.
To improve national herd quality, the import permit for livestock genetics (including bulls, heifers, and semen) has been cut from US$100 to just US$20.
The Government has decimated export-related barriers for dairy exports with registration fees slashed by 99 percent, falling from US$900 to US$10.
The license for meat exports has been reduced from US$500 to US$100.
Standard agricultural export permits have been cut from US$70 to US$10.
Zimbabwe’s largest industrial lobby said the review addressed long-standing complaints regarding the multiplicity and fragmentation of licenses.
Previously, a single dairy farmer required up to 25 different permits from 12 separate agencies to operate.
“Beyond the costs, these excessive requirements made it incredibly difficult and time-consuming for operators to obtain the necessary legal documentation.
“This bureaucratic lag often tempted businesses to operate outside the law simply to survive,” economic analyst Mr Carlos Tadya explained.
The impact of the new measures is felt across all sub-sectors. In dairy and livestock farming, nearly half of all regulations in these sectors were scrapped.
Under stockfeed and processing, fewer regulations were eliminated, but these sectors saw the most significant “downward reviews” in costs.
At least 12 regulations that previously cost businesses upwards of US$400 each have been struck off.
The Government has moved away from charging regulatory fees based on a percentage of total turnover without a limit.
Three major regulations have now been fitted with a “cap” on the maximum amount collectible.
“The size of a firm does not necessarily imply an increased cost of enforcement,” the review noted.
The review identified the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) as the agency with the highest number of eliminations, removing 10 regulations.
Local authorities and the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) followed closely, with eight and seven regulations eliminated, respectively.
Veterinary services were the only category where no regulations were eliminated. However, eight VET-related charges were slashed by at least 75 percent, providing relief while maintaining critical biosecurity and health standards.
Only 17 regulations remain unchanged after the review, and just one, related to somatic cell count testing, saw a cost increase, noted CZI.
The Government’s aggressive ease of business agenda is cutting across several economic sectors, with a recent overhaul of tourism and hospitality fees highlighting a push to lower the cost of doing business.
The Government gazetted cuts of up to 50 percent across several high-value categories.
Registration for five-star hotels dropped from US$5 250 to US$2 000. Aircraft registration fees saw a massive reduction from US$500–US$1 000 down to just US$20.
Guesthouse fees were cut from US$500 to US$150, while restaurants and travel agencies saw a reduction from US$305 to US$100.
External operators now pay US$1 500, down from US$3 000.
Analysts have noted that the Second Republic, under President Mnangagwa, has moved from mere policy pronouncements to decisive action by dismantling decades of bureaucratic red tape.
Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said the reforms were designed to de-risk the investment landscape and propel national productivity.
By slashing punitive fees and eliminating redundant licensing requirements, particularly within the vital agribusiness and tourism sectors, the government is actively lowering the cost of production.-herald
