Source: SEZ, investment licence fees cut to woo capital – herald
Oliver Kazunga
Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWE has taken a bold step to ease the cost of doing business, cutting both Special Economic Zones and investment licence fees to attract fresh capital, accelerate industrialisation and create jobs.
In its 2026 Investor Regulatory update released last week, the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) said the reforms were effected through Statutory Instruments 17 and 18 of 2026.
Foreign investors will now pay an application fee of US$500 and an investment licence fee of US$4 000 upon approval for investments under ZIDA, down from US$5 000 previously, while local investors will pay the equivalent in local currency at the interbank rate.
Renewals, alterations or amendments to investment licences are pegged at US$3 000.
The move, aimed at improving the ease of doing business, comes alongside sweeping reductions of between 50 and 60 percent in SEZ-related fees.
In a significant relief for investors, the SEZ annual fee of US$2 500 has been scrapped and replaced by a US$3 000 renewal fee payable once every three years — effectively reducing the annual cost to about US$1 000.
Under the new structure, the SEZ designation fee has been halved from US$50 000 to US$25 000, while the SEZ operator permit has been reduced from US$20 000 to US$10 000.
The SEZ investor licence fee has also been cut from US$10 000 to US$4 000.
Analysts say the latest measures will boost investor confidence, increase foreign direct investment inflows and stimulate domestic participation in SEZs.
Economic commentator Mr George Nhepera said the country is steadily positioning itself as an attractive investment destination.
“To this end, the reduction in investment fees by ZIDA is a positive and noble policy initiative, moreso coming at a time President Mnangagwa has instructed the Government and any State enterprises to significantly slash fees in a bid to reduce the cost of doing business in the country.
“The objectives of National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and vision 2030 can only be achieved in an environment characterised by low investment fees including low inflation, low interest rates and political stability,” he said.
NDS2, whose implementation started this year, seeks to consolidate gains achieved under NDS1 as the country moves towards an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce past-president Mr Trust Chikohora also welcomed the move, saying it enhances competitiveness.
“The move is helpful in terms of reducing costs and also making the fees more competitive when you compare to other countries — and it’s a positive development which needs to be complemented with other economic issues.
“It will also help with the ease of doing business and because the three-year annual fee structure is not going to be paid annually; it makes existing and potential investors able to plan on a more medium-term basis and not on a short-term basis,” he said.
The reforms come as Government intensifies efforts to unlock economic potential across the country, with plans already underway to establish a SEZ in each province.
Another economic commentator, Ms Wendy Mpofu, said the amendments would accelerate industrialisation.
“The reduction in SEZ fees is a step in the right direction in as far as enhancing value addition and creating employment opportunities across the country is concerned, while accelerating the establishment of SEZs in all provinces.
“This further positions the sector as a key driver of economic transformation under the National Development Strategy 2,” she said.
President Mnangagwa has consistently underscored that the country’s march towards Vision 2030, by which time an upper-middle-income status should be attained, will leave no one and no place behind.
The post SEZ, investment licence fees cut to woo capital appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.