Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected]
GOVERNMENT has reserved 17 sectors of the economy for Zimbabwean citizens, with 13 designated as exclusive sectors, including borehole drilling, clearing and customs, tobacco grading, estate agency and artisanal mining.
In his Post-Cabinet briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda said Cabinet had received an update on the implementation of legislation governing reserved sectors under the country’s economic empowerment framework.
The update was presented by Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu.
“The nation is informed that Government gazetted Statutory Instrument number 215 of 2025 in December 2025, reserving 17 sectors of the economy for Zimbabwean citizens. Foreign participation may be permissible in sectors such as retail and wholesale, haulage and logistics, grain milling and shipping and forwarding by exemption,” said Minister Soda.
He said compliance inspections covering more than 3 000 companies had been completed across the country’s 10 provinces.
A total of 693 formal applications for compliance in the reserved sectors had been received, while 269 foreign operators had applied for regularisation under plans requiring the transfer of 75 percent equity to Zimbabwean citizens.
Minister Soda said 144 entities had applied for confirmation of their local status through exemptions or the verification process.
Of these, 63 entities, representing 13.2 percent of foreign companies, qualified for statutory exemptions on the basis that they met prescribed investment thresholds or were recognised international brands.
“Cabinet noted that despite extensive national campaigns and issuance of non-compliance notices, the majority of foreign-owned entities have not yet regularised as required and that foreign players continue to maintain a significant footprint in reserved sectors including retail and brick moulding, hence stiffer penalties will be implemented,” said Minister Soda.
He said the Ministry of Industry and Commerce would suspend or revoke the operating licences of businesses that failed to comply with regulations governing the reserved sectors.
