Online Reporter
Zvamaida Murwira, [email protected]
CABINET has approved the review of licences, permits, levies and fees in the agriculture sub-sectors comprising crops, horticulture, fisheries and fertiliser as part of Government’s wide-ranging reforms aimed at reducing the cost of doing business and enhancing economic growth.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda announced the developments yesterday while delivering a post-Cabinet briefing in Harare.
“Cabinet considered and approved the review of licences, permits, levies and fees in the agricultural sub-sectors comprising crops, horticulture, fisheries and fertiliser, in line with the Cabinet decision of July 29, 2025, which approved the implementation of a raft of business reforms in twelve sectors of the economy,” said Dr Soda.
“The review process is aimed at reducing the cost of doing business, increasing competitiveness, enhancing the viability of enterprises and enabling the growth of the Zimbabwean economy.”
He said Cabinet approved the streamlining of duplicated and overlapping regulatory licences and permits, removed unnecessary levies and fees, and lowered unjustifiably high charges.
Among the major reductions, Agricultural Marketing Authority contractor registration fees for crops have been slashed from US$1,000 to US$250, while AMA trader registration fees were reduced from US$1,000 to US$100.
Effluent discharge costs have been cut from US$27,000 to US$13,500.
Other key adjustments include pesticide registration fees reduced from US$300 to US$150, the removal of 15,5 percent Value Added Tax on fish product sales, and a reduction in National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority lake lease fees from US$30,000 to US$15,000. Fish harvest fees pegged at US$7,50 per tonne have also been removed.
Dr Soda said Cabinet also reviewed cross-cutting licences and fees that impact beyond the specified sub-sectors, including the standardisation of Local Authorities Development Levy and water levies under the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.
“The reviewed licences, permits and fees will be subjected to further refinements and a comprehensive schedule will be duly gazetted,” he said.
Cabinet also approved supportive structural policy reforms aimed at enhancing viability within the sub-sectors.
These include the introduction of deterrent and punitive fines for thefts in the agriculture sector, to be expanded beyond livestock to cover all agricultural produce and equipment, including fisheries; the waiver of import licence requirements for agricultural equipment spare parts imported for a farmer’s own use; and a review of dam construction regulations to incentivise private sector investment in dam building.
Responding to media inquiries, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said Government was prepared to support state entities that might be affected by the fee reductions.
“As Treasury, we are ready to fill any legitimate gaps that might arise from the pressures of reduced fees. Today, we have covered the agriculture sub-sector and we hope to complete the remaining three sectors within the next few weeks,” said Prof Ncube.
He said the reductions would improve the cost of doing business and ultimately enable entities to pay taxes to Government.
