Freeman Razemba Senior Reporter
The Government has published draft regulations to formalise and regulate the e-hailing transport sector, introducing mandatory accreditation for platform providers, permits for drivers, licensing requirements for vehicles, and new safety and revenue-compliance obligations.
The draft Road Motor Transportation (E-hailing Services) Regulations, 2026, made in terms of section 52 of the Road Motor Transportation Act [Chapter 13:15], were released by the Ministry of
Transport and Infrastructural Development following a Cabinet directive requiring their promulgation by 31 December 2026.
The regulations come after Cabinet, in September, granted e-hailing operators a five-month moratorium — applying to platforms such as Bolt, InDrive, Tap & Go, GoFaster and KOSE — to allow the review of rules governing the sector.
Under the draft framework, no person will be allowed to make an e-hailing platform available in Zimbabwe without a certificate of accreditation from the Commissioner. Foreign-owned platforms will be required to register locally and appoint a Zimbabwean-incorporated local representative with a physical office in the country.
Accreditation will be valid for three years and will be subject to conditions including maintaining a physical office in Zimbabwe, operating a 24-hour safety response centre, complying with data protection laws, and submitting to annual information security assessments.
E-hailing drivers will be required to hold a valid e-hailing driver’s permit, be at least 21 years old, have held a valid driver’s licence for at least five years, possess a defensive driving certificate, and produce a certificate of medical fitness.
Vehicles used for e-hailing will need a valid certificate of fitness, third-party and passenger liability insurance, functional seat belts, and satellite-based location tracking.
The vehicles must also have been manufactured not more than 10 years before being registered for e-hailing service.
Each vehicle will be issued with an e-hailing identification disc, valid for 12 months, to be displayed on the front windscreen.
The draft regulations introduce extensive safety measures, including real-time facial verification of drivers before they go online each day, a unique trip verification code confirmed between passenger and driver, an emergency alert function linked to a safety response centre, and continuous satellite tracking with automated alerts for route deviations or prolonged stops.
Platform providers will be required to notify the Zimbabwe Republic Police within 15 minutes of receiving an emergency alert indicating a threat to life or personal safety.
Passengers will be required to register with their full name and a verified mobile telephone number, and to provide national identity or passport details for cash payments or trips requested between 9pm and 5am.
The regulations also contain revenue-compliance measures, including mandatory tax registration for platform providers, tax clearance gating for vehicle operators, fiscalised receipts, monthly returns to Zimra and ZINARA, and secure read-only electronic access to trip data for tax authorities.
A per-trip e-hailing road user charge will be collected by platform providers and remitted to ZINARA for payment into the Road Fund.
Under the draft, platform providers will be required to display estimated fares before a trip is confirmed, with fare increases capped at 15 percent above the estimate unless the passenger requests changes. Surge pricing will be capped at two times the normal fare and prohibited during declared states of emergency or disaster.
Commission charged to drivers and operators will be capped at 18 percent of the fare, exclusive of VAT and the road user charge, and platform providers will be required to pay drivers within seven days of a completed trip.
Inspecting officers and police officers will have powers to stop vehicles, verify driver and vehicle registration in real time, and detain vehicles operating without the required licences or permits.
Penalties for contraventions are set at a fine not exceeding level four, with continuing offences attracting a separate charge for each day the contravention continues.
Existing operators will have 60 days from the date of commencement to lodge applications, and will be deemed compliant until their applications are determined or until 8 February 2027, whichever is earlier. However, safety, data and revenue provisions will apply to platform providers from the date of commencement.
The Ministry has since invited stakeholders and members of the public to review the draft and submit views before promulgation.
“The Ministry invites stakeholders and members of the public to review the proposed Draft Statutory Instrument and submit their views and recommendations before promulgation to inform the development of a regulatory framework for e-hailing services in Zimbabwe,” the Ministry said in a statement.
“Your input is important in shaping safe, efficient and well-regulated e-hailing services.”
The measures are being implemented in line with the Government’s National Development Strategy 2, which seeks to promote an enabling business environment while improving service delivery.
