The Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) has commended Cabinet for approving sweeping reforms to review and streamline licences, permits, levies and fees in the retail and wholesale sectors, describing the move as a major breakthrough in improving the ease and cost of doing business.
CZR president Dr. Denford Mutashu in a statement yesterday said the decision reflects strong political will and commitment to support formal businesses that have long faced high operational costs due to fragmented licensing systems.
“The Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers warmly welcomes and commends the Cabinet of Zimbabwe for its progressive and business-friendly decision to review and streamline licences, permits, levies and fees within the retail and wholesale sector,” he said.
He noted that the reforms are consistent with Government’s broader goal of improving the business environment in line with Vision 2030.
“For years, the multiplicity of fragmented licences, overlapping permits and high levies imposed by different regulatory bodies and local authorities have significantly increased operational costs and constrained growth within the formal economy,” Dr. Mutashu said.
Cabinet’s approval under the July 29, 2025 business reform programme will see the consolidation of multiple licences into a single permit, the removal of unnecessary levies, and the reduction of high fees across the sector.
Among the changes, the liquor licence application fee was reduced to US$20 from US$1,080 for wholesalers, while the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) permit for trading in veterinary products was scrapped.
The local authority bakery licence fee of US$703 was also removed, and local authority fees were capped to ensure uniformity across the country.
Dr. Mutashu added that the reduction of the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) grocery licence fee from US$120 to US$20, a 50 percent cut in the health report licence fee, and the lowering of the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) elevator registration fee from US$200 to US$20 will ease the burden on operators.
“We urge all local authorities and regulatory agencies to swiftly align their licensing frameworks with these Cabinet-approved reforms,” he said.
The CZR said the reforms mark a significant milestone towards cost reduction, competitiveness and sustainable economic growth.
The organisation reaffirmed its readiness to collaborate with Government in implementing the new framework and ensuring that the benefits are felt across the entire retail and wholesale value chain.
