Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve-Victoria Falls Reporter
LOCAL authorities have been warned against imposing excessive licensing fees that deter investment, with the Government directing councils to adhere to a binding order aimed at reducing the cost of doing business.
In a recent interview with Zimpapers in Victoria Falls, Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe, said any council found flouting the directive would face corrective action.
“The President has now directed all the local authorities, all the Government, various Government ministries to have licencing fees, to charge rates that encourage people to invest in them,” said Minister Garwe.
“If there is any local authority which is not paying attention to that, we humbly request people to bring the names of those local authorities so that corrective measures are put in place.
“But all of us are supposed to adhere to the new act of measures that were pronounced by Government. From the beginning of this year, Government has been promoting the ease of doing business, by way of slashing rates, ensuring that licensing fees are affordable and acceptable to the communities, to the business people and everybody else.”
Minister Garwe’s warning follows reports that several local authorities have been defying the Government directive by continuing to charge exorbitant fees for operating licences, parking, and other levies, thereby choking small to medium enterprises and discouraging potential investors.
Earlier in 2026, the Government rolled out sweeping measures to cut licencing costs across 12 key sectors. These include manufacturing, retail, tourism, transport, agriculture, mining, construction, information technology, health services, education, real estate, and hospitality.
Specific fee reductions cover trade licences, parking fees, street vendor permits, and various local authority administrative charges.
“Corrective measures will be taken without fear or favour. No council is above Government policy,” Minister Garwe said.
