ZNOART national Chairman, Shalvar Chikomba
Staff Writer
The Zimbabwe National Organization of Associations and Residents Trust (ZNOART) has applauded government for reducing business license fees, saying the move is crucial in achieving Vision 2030.
In a statement, ZNOART national Chairman, Shalvar Chikomba urged local authorities to improve service delivery following government’s move.
” ZNOART extends its heartfelt appreciation to His Excellency, President Dr. ED Mnangagwa, for his visionary
leadership in driving Zimbabwe’s economic growth. We applaud the Government, through the
Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, for streamlining and simplifying licensing
procedures, a crucial step towards achieving Vision 2030,”said Chikomba.
He added:
“The reforms, part of National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), will enhance Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, promoting domestic investment and community development.
“The introduction of a sliding scale licensing fee structure, capped at
USD$500, is a welcome development, promoting inclusivity and encouraging small traders to formalize.
“We commend the consolidation of 11 local authority licenses into a single unitary business license, improving ease of doing business. The Ministry’s wide-ranging reforms will cut red tape,
promote transparency, and boost business confidence.
“ZNOART welcomes these measures and urges local authorities to incorporate the reforms into their 2026 budgets and Strategic Plans. We call for alignment of by-laws, fee structures, and
operational frameworks to ensure uniformity nationwide.
As an organization with residents at heart, we await the necessary legal amendments and urge
local authorities to pass on savings from reduced licensing costs to residents through improved service delivery.”
Chikomba said ZNOART is ready to work hand in gloves with government in the promotion of community engagement.
“ZNOART stands ready to partner with the Government to ensure buy-in and ownership of the reforms, promoting community engagement and effective implementation,”he said.
Government has significantly reduced business license fees as part of a broader initiative to improve the ease of doing business. Key measures include merging 11 local authority licenses into one, capping SME licenses at a maximum of $500, halving tourism and hotel fees, and eliminating several redundant permits like those for veterinary product sales in supermarkets. The changes also aim to lower municipal fees and were partially implemented in October 2025, with further gazetting of legal instruments to enforce them expected.