Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo
[email protected]
THE Government has abolished cemetery entry fees and capped local authorities’ outdoor advertising charges at US$2.50 per square metre as part of a fresh package of reforms aimed at reducing the cost of doing business and eliminating unnecessary regulatory charges.
The measures, approved by Cabinet on Tuesday, form part of the Second Republic’s ongoing Ease of Doing Business programme, which has now been extended to cover additional sectors of the economy.
Presenting the post-Cabinet briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda said Cabinet had approved a mop-up review of licences, permits, levies and fees charged by Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the agriculture, education, transport, sport and natural stone export sub-sectors.
The review was presented by the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Professor Mthuli Ncube.
“In order to ensure that the Ease of Doing Business review of licences, permits, levies and fees comprehensively covers all the sectors of the economy, Cabinet extended the process to include outstanding sectors and sub-sectors that were not covered during the review of the initial 13 priority sectors approved on July 29, 2025,” said Dr Soda.
He said Cabinet approved the streamlining of duplicated and overlapping regulatory licences and permits, the removal of unnecessary levies and fees, and the reduction of charges that had been found to be unjustifiably high.
Among the key resolutions is a reduction in registration fees charged by the Agricultural Marketing Authority for industrial hemp, together with cuts to several fees levied by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe relating to industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis, including application processing, licensing and agricultural medicinal cannabis research permits.
In the education sector, Cabinet resolved that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s annual school affiliation fees, ZIMSEC annual affiliation fees and examination fees will remain unchanged.
Transport reforms include the formalisation of tricycle registration and rider licensing, while vehicle change-of-ownership fees for all vehicle categories will remain unchanged. Government will also establish a One Stop Shop facility to simplify and speed up vehicle ownership transfer processes.
In the sport sector, Cabinet approved a 50 percent reduction in the Sport and Recreation Commission’s gate takings levy, a 50 percent reduction in the Zimbabwe Football Association’s six percent levy on gross match-day revenue, and a reduction of the Premier Soccer League levy from 10 percent of net match-day revenue to four percent.
Local authorities’ venue hire levies for sporting events have also been reduced from 15 percent to 10 percent of total gross gate attendance.
Cabinet further resolved to cap outdoor advertising charges imposed by local authorities at US$2.50 per square metre and to abolish cemetery entry fees entirely.
Dr Soda said the revised fees and levies will come into effect once the necessary statutory instruments have been finalised.
The latest reforms are expected to reduce regulatory costs for businesses and individuals while improving efficiency, transparency and competitiveness across key sectors of the economy.
