Tendai Makumire
All fees, levies and charges prescribed under existing laws will remain in effect until the relevant statutes are formally amended or repealed through proper legal procedures, Government has said.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the clarification follows growing queries from businesses and investors regarding recent pronouncements about the reduction of fees and charges as part of efforts to improve the ease of doing business in Zimbabwe.
“All fees, levies and charges prescribed in existing laws in the form of primary and subsidiary legislation shall continue in force and effect until such a time when the statutory provisions providing for the same have been amended or repealed in accordance with set procedures,” said Minister Ziyambi.
He said the Ministry, working closely with the Office of the Attorney-General and other relevant ministries, is now taking steps to ensure that the Government’s policy decision to cut the cost of doing business is fully backed by legally binding instruments.
“The Ministry, together with the Office of the Attorney-General, is working with all relevant Ministries to ensure that the policy position adopted by Government to reduce the various fees, levies and charges is translated into legally binding legal instruments,” he said.
Minister Ziyambi stressed that this legal alignment is crucial for building investor confidence, eliminating gaps in the law and creating a business-friendly regulatory environment.
“As a Ministry, and working with the Attorney-General, we have a positive obligation, as aptly enunciated in section 114 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, to ensure that statutes are drafted to eliminate any gaps in the law,” he said.
He added that the reforms are expected to stimulate investment, boost entrepreneurship and drive Zimbabwe’s push towards an upper middle-income economy in line with Vision 2030.
“It is in the public interest that we must draft and enact laws that enhance the investment climate and facilitate the ease of doing business in Zimbabwe.
“This is critical in promoting national development in line with Vision 2030 and in ensuring the progressive realisation of the socio-economic rights encapsulated in the Constitution of Zimbabwe, and the various international agreements that Zimbabwe is party to,” said Minister Ziyambi.
