Zimbabwe’s private sector is stepping up calls for policy reforms as business membership organisations deepen engagement with government over regulatory, tax and industrial policy constraints weighing on competitiveness.
The Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce recently participated in a high-level meeting with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Zimbabwe on April 1, marking what industry leaders describe as a transition from dialogue to implementation-focused engagement.
According to the chamber, the platform signals “a shift toward structured, solutions-driven dialogue between government and the private sector,” with early progress already recorded in the review and reduction of regulatory fees and charges — a long-standing concern among businesses.
During the engagement, business leaders tabled proposals targeting key structural bottlenecks affecting industrial growth. Among the issues raised were calls to rationalise the sugar tax framework, streamline tax audits conducted by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, and review import licensing requirements under Statutory Instrument 59 of 2026 governing controlled imports.
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ZNCC said its submissions also covered broader macroeconomic pressures affecting operations across sectors.
“Key areas include risk management in Government guarantees, exchange rate dynamics, fuel tax pressures, and the operationalisation of Special Economic Zones,” the chamber noted, highlighting persistent concerns over policy consistency, compliance costs and the broader ease of doing business.
The discussions come at a time when Zimbabwe’s industrial sector continues to grapple with high production costs, currency volatility and limited access to affordable financing — factors analysts say continue to constrain competitiveness despite ongoing reform efforts.
While Government has implemented incremental measures, including easing certain regulatory costs, businesses are increasingly calling for predictable and coherent policy frameworks, particularly in taxation and import controls that directly influence pricing structures, supply chains and long-term investment decisions.
ZNCC said the meeting reinforced the importance of sustained engagement between policymakers and industry.
“The engagement reaffirmed the importance of continuous, structured dialogue anchored on implementation, policy coherence, and measurable outcomes,” the chamber said, positioning ongoing consultations as central to unlocking industrial recovery and private-sector-led growth.
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