Bulawayo, (New Ziana) – There is need to strengthen collaboration between the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) the private sector to boost compliance, enhance revenue collection and accelerate industrial growth, a senior official  has said.
The ZIMRA acting Commissioner General Misheck Govha said this during a stakeholders breakfast meeting held on the sidelines of the ongoing 66th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair(ZITF) on Tuesday.
This year the ZITF is running under the theme, “Connected Economies, Competitive Industries”.
Govha said sustained dialogue between business and the tax administrator was key to unlocking economic opportunities and improving the operating environment.
“This platform offers a wonderful opportunity for business to forge meaningful synergies with the authority and to give us feedback on the areas we need to improve,” he said.
He described the engagement, now a regular feature on the ZITF calendar, as critical in strengthening relationships beyond traditional tax compliance discussions.
“As we share breakfast and discuss matters of national importance, far beyond the realm of tax audits and compliance checks, I am confident that we will strengthen relationships and unlock practical business opportunities,” he said.
Govha commended the private sector for its contribution to revenue mobilisation, noting that business remained central to the country’s economic recovery efforts.
“As ZIMRA, we commend business for the hard work and the tremendous contribution you have made towards revenue collection, in support of the country’s economic revival efforts,” he said.
The tax authority, he added, has intensified efforts to modernise its systems and improve service delivery through innovation and digitalisation, including the rollout of the Tax and Revenue Management System (TaRMS).
“We have witnessed a major shift with the Tax and Revenue Management System. We continue to have client engagements and revamp our systems. We have become client-centric and continue to improve our client relationships through our tax awareness and education drive,” he said.
Govha challenged businesses and citizens to cultivate a strong culture of tax compliance, warning that evasion undermines national development.
“What is now required is for the business community and indeed the entire population to cultivate, nurture and sustain a culture of complying with tax laws. This is essential to facilitate national development,” he said.
“If you have not been tax compliant, I urge you to do so. Compliance is actually beneficial for your business in the long run, “Govha said.
He said ZIMRA was committed to upholding integrity within its ranks while rooting out corruption to build public trust.
“We are building a team of tax officers who put integrity first, and we will continue to remove bad apples from our institution so that we move towards a corruption-free customer experience,” he said.
Govha stressed that a healthy relationship between taxpayers and the tax authority should be anchored on transparency, fairness and mutual respect.
Turning to the broader economic outlook, he said ZIMRA’s strategic focus aligns with the ZITF 2026 theme, “Connected Economies, Competitive Industries,” with the authority prioritising innovation, automation and digitalisation to support industrialisation.
Govha warned against illicit activities such as smuggling, corruption and tax evasion, saying they have adopted a zero-tolerance approach.
“The future for our nation rests on our connectedness and collective drive to forge strong and durable alliances between business and ZIMRA. Vices such as corruption, smuggling and tax evasion must be dealt with decisively,” he said.
New Ziana
