Zimbabwe reduced regulatory barriers to attract foreign capital under President Mnangagwa's directive to accelerate reforms aimed at easing the business environment. The government reviewed levies, fees, licenses, and permits across 12 sectors on July 29, 2025, and completed evaluations for tourism and agriculture to streamline operations.
The Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency launched an electronic licensing portal in 2024, which reduced processing times from 30 days to under one week. Investment licenses issued from 2022 through the first quarter of 2025 increased steadily. The platform eliminated overlapping requirements that previously forced businesses to wait months for multiple permits.
Infrastructure upgrades accompany administrative changes as five contractors rehabilitate the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway. Officials modernized Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport while constructing interchanges and irrigation systems near major dams. Economic analyst George Nhepera stated that deregulation reforms will reduce costs across all sectors and attract international investment.
The proposed National Trade Act will establish policy coherence for tariff adjustments. Competition and Tariff Commission assistant director Cecilia Mashava explained that the legislation prevents arbitrary changes that disrupt economic sectors. Economist Stevenson Dlamini described the framework as essential for alignment with regional trade agreements under SADC, COMESA, and AfCFTA protocols.
The Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency launched an electronic licensing portal in 2024, which reduced processing times from 30 days to under one week. Investment licenses issued from 2022 through the first quarter of 2025 increased steadily. The platform eliminated overlapping requirements that previously forced businesses to wait months for multiple permits.
Infrastructure upgrades accompany administrative changes as five contractors rehabilitate the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway. Officials modernized Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport while constructing interchanges and irrigation systems near major dams. Economic analyst George Nhepera stated that deregulation reforms will reduce costs across all sectors and attract international investment.
The proposed National Trade Act will establish policy coherence for tariff adjustments. Competition and Tariff Commission assistant director Cecilia Mashava explained that the legislation prevents arbitrary changes that disrupt economic sectors. Economist Stevenson Dlamini described the framework as essential for alignment with regional trade agreements under SADC, COMESA, and AfCFTA protocols.
