marble nkomo
GOVERNMENT is walking the talk on its commitment to implement ease of doing business reforms.
Recently, it gazetted revised compliance fees for all local authorities and in some cases abolished levies and slashed parking fees. The move is expected to not only boost businesses but also improve profit margins and promote investment.
Retail outlets are expected to benefit more from abolished fees, which were discouraging businesses from expanding.
A retail outlet, which wanted to expand to include a bakery had to obtain a fresh licence but this has since been abolished.
Retail outlets can now expand their range of services to include takeaways, restaurants and bottle stores without seeking new licences as was the case in the past.
Government has also slashed parking fees, which are now capped at 50 cents an hour for all local authorities while clapping fees are now capped at USD20.
Some local authorities were charging as high as USD85 clapping fees.
The other abolished fees are timber transportation levy, cattle levy and livestock movement clearance, borehole/water abstraction levy, butchery licence within a licensed retail shop and carcass inspection fees.
To complement this bold move by Government, President Mnangagwa has urged Cabinet Ministers to ensure there is no unwarranted rigidity inflated individualities and bureaucratic lethargy in the discharge of duty by civil servants and those working for State enterprises.
He said Government will not tolerate any conduct that frustrates progress such as sitting on documents. President Mnangagwa said Government was answerable to the people and as such accountable governance must be encouraged going forward.
He said citizens looked up to Government to facilitate investments across all sectors as well as help deliver services and higher quality of life.
President Mnangagwa said hesitation, the dragging of feet and fence sitting were not acceptable dispositions under his administration. The task at hand is to grow the economy and, Government on its part has come up with a cocktail of measures meant to attract both local and foreign investors hence the recent revision of compliance fees charged by councils.
We want at this juncture to commend Government for its efforts to continue improving the ease of doing business environment as we work to build the Zimbabwe we all want.
Rural and urban local authorities should constantly review their by-laws to keep abreast with the changing business environment. The aim should be to attract new investors as well as encourage the existing businesses to expand and employ more people.
Online Reporter