Tax rules hurt small shops more than the taxes themselves in Zimbabwe. Business owners must buy costly devices, hire helpers, or pay extra fees to follow tax laws. A simple app called Roundihmp offers help for only $10 each month.
Thamsanqa Bhala made this app after teaching himself coding from videos. His program lets people make receipts that meet government rules without buying expensive machines. The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority wants every sale tracked with special devices costing up to $1,000, but many cannot afford this.
Setting up these systems also costs hundreds more for experts who know the system. Late fees reach $1,000 for those who fail to comply. Bhala works mostly alone on his cloud-based service, hoping to grow across Southern Africa.
High data prices limit the number of people who can use apps like his, with 1GB costing almost $44. Only 14% of small businesses register officially because the process seems impossible. The government plans its own phone app next year, but Roundihmp already helps many file taxes through their phones.
Thamsanqa Bhala made this app after teaching himself coding from videos. His program lets people make receipts that meet government rules without buying expensive machines. The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority wants every sale tracked with special devices costing up to $1,000, but many cannot afford this.
Setting up these systems also costs hundreds more for experts who know the system. Late fees reach $1,000 for those who fail to comply. Bhala works mostly alone on his cloud-based service, hoping to grow across Southern Africa.
High data prices limit the number of people who can use apps like his, with 1GB costing almost $44. Only 14% of small businesses register officially because the process seems impossible. The government plans its own phone app next year, but Roundihmp already helps many file taxes through their phones.
