Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo, [email protected]
GOVERNMENT has approved the review of licences, permits, levies and fees in the construction sector, with particular focus on the real estate development sub sector.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Zhemu Soda told a post Cabinet media briefing that the move aligns with the Cabinet decision of 29 July last year, which endorsed the implementation of business reforms across twelve sectors of the economy.
“The review process is aimed at reducing the cost of doing business, increasing competitiveness, enhancing investor confidence and stimulating the growth and expansion of the domestic construction sector,” he said.
The construction sector becomes the latest to undergo a review of its licences, permits, levies and fees, following similar reforms in other sectors as the Second Republic continues efforts to improve the ease of doing business in key economic areas.
Cabinet has approved the streamlining of duplicated and overlapping regulatory licences and permits, the removal of unnecessary levies and fees, and the reduction of unjustifiably high charges for the real estate sub sector.
This includes the capping of Local Authorities Building Plan approval fees for high density suburbs; capping of approval fees for industrial plans; scrapping of Local Authorities Building Permit inspection fees for high density suburbs; reducing Local Authorities Structural Engineering Design approval fees; abolishing Environmental Impact Assessment fees; and reducing Local Authorities Contractor Registration fees.
Minister Soda said further consultations will be carried out on the reviews under three categories: Government levies and fees; Private Sector levies and fees; and other cross cutting issues.
“The relevant Statutory Instruments and detailed fee schedules will thereafter be gazetted. Regarding the ‘Other’ category, Government will review cross cutting issues such as constrained credit facilities that have a significant impact beyond the real estate sub sector and relate to the accelerated regularisation of informal settlements through a structured programme to ensure the provision of essential social and physical infrastructure under the approved User Pay Principle,” he said.
Meanwhile, Cabinet also considered and approved the Memorandum of Understanding between Zimbabwe and Ghana on cooperation in the energy sector, presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation.
“The envisaged cooperation will foster stronger economic ties and enhance the existing friendly relations between the two countries. Mutually benefiting both Parties, the Memorandum of Understanding outlines parameters for collaboration in key areas, including renewable energy, oil, gas, electricity and petroleum.
“The MoU offers strategic benefits for Zimbabwe such as enhancing security of energy supply, electricity trading, infrastructure development, promotion of renewable energy, and capacity building in transition to clean energy in order to accelerate its deployment,” said Minister Soda.
