Harare, (New Ziana) – Following recent calls by the National Competitiveness Commission (NCC) for policymakers, industry, and other stakeholders to better understand evolving global risks and craft strategies that strengthen resilience, promote innovation, and enhance national competitiveness in an increasingly uncertain environment, Cabinet on Tuesday approved a review of a raft of fees and licenses in the agriculture sector.
The 2026 Global Risks Report highlights that such risks have direct implications for national economies, affecting trade flows, investment patterns, supply chains, and macroeconomic stability. It further notes that for countries such as Zimbabwe, these dynamics influence productivity, export performance, infrastructure resilience, and overall economic growth prospects.
Addressing a post-Cabinet media briefing, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Zhemu Soda, said the Government will review licences, levies, fees, and rates across the agriculture sector, with a focus on crops, horticulture, fisheries, and fertilizer sub-sectors.
“Cabinet considered and approved the review of licences, permits, levies, and fees in the agricultural sub-sectors comprising crops, horticulture, fisheries, and fertilizer, in line with the Cabinet decision of 29 July 2025, which approved the implementation of a raft of business reforms in twelve sectors of the economy. The review process is aimed at reducing the cost of doing business, increasing competitiveness, enhancing the viability of enterprises, and enabling the growth of the Zimbabwean economy,” Soda said.
He added that Cabinet also approved the streamlining of duplicated and overlapping regulatory licences and permits, the removal of unnecessary levies and fees, and the reduction of unjustifiably high charges across the agricultural sub-sectors.
The Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) contractor registration fee for crops has been reduced from US$1 000 to US$250, while trader registration fees have been lowered from US$1 000 to US$100. Effluent discharge charges have been cut from US$27 000 to US$13 500, and pesticide registration fees reduced to US$150 from US$300.
In the fisheries sector, Cabinet approved the removal of the 15,5 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on fish and fish product sales, as well as the scrapping of fish harvest fees previously set at US$7.50 per tonne. The National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority’s lake lease fees have also been reduced from US$30 000 to US$15 000.
“Cabinet also reviewed cross-cutting licences, permits, levies, and fees that have a significant impact beyond the crops, horticulture, fisheries, and fertilizer sub-sectors and relate to the standardisation of Local Authorities Development Levy and the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Water Levy and Joint Venture Lease fees.
“The reviewed licences, permits, and fees will be subjected to further refinements, and a comprehensive schedule will be duly gazetted. Cabinet noted other issues affecting crops, horticulture, fisheries, and fertilizer subsectors and approved supportive structural policy reforms aimed at enhancing viability within the subsectors,” Soda said.
Deterrent and punitive fines for theft in the agriculture sector will be expanded beyond livestock to cover all forms of agricultural produce and equipment, including fisheries. In addition, the requirement for import licences for agricultural equipment spare parts intended for farmers’ own use will be waived.
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