GROBBIE Best Foods chief executive officer Nancy Guzha has commended the Government’s efforts to reduce compliance-related costs, saying the reductions have improved industry overheads and created a more supportive environment for business growth.
Speaking during a panel discussion at the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries Manufacturing Sector Survey and Review 2025 in Harare yesterday, Mrs Guzha said manufacturers were beginning to see tangible benefits from policy measures aimed at lowering the cost of doing business.
She said reductions in fees charged by regulatory bodies, including the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) and the National Biotechnology Authority, had brought considerable relief to companies.
“We have had so much support from the ministry and from Government. It is exciting to wake up and pay AMA, National Biotechnology and so forth, and realise that everything has gone down by about 75 percent,” said Mrs Guzha.
“Last year we paid around US$1 000 in fees and levies, and we woke up to pay US$250 this year.
“So, ease of doing business support has happened, and it is helping us reduce our overheads.”
Industry leaders have long highlighted policy stability, reduced regulatory costs and improved access to support services as key factors that could accelerate manufacturing recovery and strengthen local production capacity.
The Government recently implemented a package of business reforms aimed at cutting compliance costs, reducing bureaucracy, and improving the operating environment across key sectors, including manufacturing, retail, agriculture, healthcare and finance.
The reforms are part of broader efforts to enhance competitiveness, attract investment, and support industrial growth by easing administrative burdens on companies.
Mrs Guzha said the improved policy environment was encouraging manufacturers to focus more resources on production expansion and competitiveness.
Mrs Guzha is the proprietor of Grobbie Best Foods, a fast-growing fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) agro-processing company based in Harare that specialises in maize-based products and snack manufacturing.
The company produces staple foods, including Gutsa Roller Meal, Jena Super Refined maize meal, and ZIMBANAX maize snacks, serving Zimbabwe’s growing demand for locally produced food products.
Mrs Guzha has extensive experience in the FMCG sector, having previously served as the first female managing director of Unilever Zimbabwe and later as the first female vice-president of Unilever Southern Africa.
She is also recognised for her work in business transformation and corporate turnaround strategies.-herald
