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CRZ Welcomes Cabinet’s Move to Streamline Retail and Wholesale Licensing

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The Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) has applauded Cabinet’s approval of sweeping reforms to licences, permits, levies and fees in the retail and wholesale sector, describing the move as a major step towards improving the ease and cost of doing business in Zimbabwe.

 

The reforms, approved under the Government’s 29 July 2025 business reform framework covering twelve key economic sectors, aim to remove structural bottlenecks that have long weighed down formal businesses.

 

Cabinet approved the consolidation of fragmented licensing requirements into a single licence, the streamlining of duplicative and overlapping permits, and the removal or reduction of unnecessary levies and fees across major sub-sectors such as supermarkets, butcheries, clothing and furniture shops.

 

Among the key adjustments, the Liquor Licence application fee has been slashed to USD20 across all sectors — down from USD1,080 for wholesale liquor traders — while the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) permit fee of USD200 for veterinary products and the Local Authority bakery licence fee of USD703 have both been scrapped.

 

Cabinet also agreed to cap licence fees for all local authorities to promote uniformity nationwide.

 

Cross-cutting reviews were also made on several key regulatory fees. The Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) licence fee for groceries and provisions has been reduced from USD120 to USD20, while the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) elevator registration fee has been cut from USD200 to USD20.

 

Other reductions include a 50% cut to the Health Report licence fee, and the lowering of bank charges and transfer fees to promote financial inclusion.

 

CZR President Dr Denford Mutashu commended Government for its “progressive and business-friendly decision,” saying it reflected strong political will to strengthen the formal economy.

 

“For years, the multiplicity of fragmented licences and overlapping permits imposed by different regulatory bodies has increased operational costs and constrained growth. This reform marks a decisive step toward a more competitive, business-friendly environment,” Dr Mutashu said.

 

He urged all local authorities and regulatory agencies to swiftly align their licensing frameworks with the Cabinet-approved reforms “to ensure immediate relief for operators on the ground.”

 

CZR also expressed gratitude to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Cabinet for their commitment to creating a conducive environment for business growth, consistent with the national vision of “leaving no one and no place behind.”

 

The reviewed licences, permits and fees will undergo further refinements before being officially gazetted.

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Former COO Fayaz King Returns to Lead Econet InfraCo

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Econet Wireless Zimbabwe has appointed its former Chief Operating Officer, Fayaz King, as the Chief Executive Officer of its newly established infrastructure subsidiary, Econet InfraCo.

King is making a return to the telecommunications giant after departing in 2019 to serve as Assistant Secretary-General at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). He is set to assume his new role on 1 March 2026.

Econet InfraCo is expected to list on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX) toward the end of March, subject to shareholder approval of Econet’s proposed delisting from the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange and transition to an over-the-counter trading platform overseen by the VFEX.

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International FinTech Executive Tinashe Muhove Supports SMEs and Youth Talent

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LONDON — International fintech executive Tinashe Muhove is playing an important role in expanding financial access, supporting small businesses, and helping young people enter the global fintech industry.

Muhove has worked in senior positions at well-known fintech companies such as Mukuru, Mama Money, and MoneyGram. In these roles, he focused on growing businesses and expanding into new markets, especially in cross-border payments and money transfer services.

Much of his work has targeted emerging and underbanked communities, helping improve access to financial services in Africa, Europe, and other regions.

Industry experts say his experience dealing with different regulations and business environments has given him a strong understanding of both business growth and financial inclusion.

Muhove is currently the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of UJU, a UK-based technology company that supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The platform helps high-street businesses keep customers and improve long-term profits at a time when competition and digital change are increasing.

UJU provides tools that help businesses encourage repeat customers and maintain steady income. This is important as many small businesses face rising costs and changing customer habits. The company’s work supports wider efforts in the UK to strengthen local economies and protect jobs.

Alongside his business work, Muhove is also involved in education and skills development. He founded Fin4NextGen, a four-week global programme that introduces young people to the fintech industry.

The programme teaches basic fintech ideas, career options, and real-life examples. It mainly targets young people who may not normally have access to the fintech sector. This supports industry efforts to improve skills and increase diversity in fintech.

Muhove is also sharing his ideas through writing. He is currently working on a book about the challenges of building fintech startups. The book follows two young entrepreneurs in the same industry but with very different goals, and looks at ambition, ethics, and purpose.

At the centre of the book is a key question he believes founders must ask themselves:

“Why am I building what I am building?”

Analysts say this focus on purpose reflects a wider shift in fintech, as companies are now expected to consider social impact as well as profit.

With experience in global fintech companies, SME technology, youth education, and thought leadership, Muhove is increasingly seen as someone helping shape the future of the UK and global fintech industry.

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Dangote Appoints MTN CEO Ralph Mupita to Fertiliser Board Ahead of IPO

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Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has appointed MTN Group Chief Executive Officer Ralph Mupita to the board of Dangote Fertiliser as the company prepares for a landmark initial public offering (IPO) on the Nigerian Stock Exchange later this year.

 

Dangote Fertiliser Managing Director Vishwajit Sinha confirmed Mupita’s appointment, signalling a strategic move as the fertiliser business positions itself for expansion and entry into public markets.

 

Mupita’s inclusion brings high-level capital markets and corporate governance experience to Dangote’s fast-growing fertiliser unit. He previously led the successful 2019 listing of MTN Nigeria, now one of the country’s most valuable companies. Since its listing, MTN Nigeria’s revenues have more than quadrupled, and the company currently boasts a market capitalisation of about US$8.6 billion, making it the Nigerian Exchange’s second-largest stock after BUA Foods.

 

The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Dangote Fertiliser, which is seeking to tap public markets to fund ambitious expansion plans. The company currently produces around 3 million tonnes of granulated urea annually from its US$2.5 billion Lagos-based complex and aims to become the world’s largest fertiliser producer by 2028.

 

To support this goal, Dangote Fertiliser plans to expand its existing Nigerian operations and commence construction of a new production facility in Ethiopia later this year. The Ethiopian plant is expected to strengthen the company’s footprint in East Africa while supporting regional food security and agricultural productivity.

 

Africa’s fertiliser market is gaining prominence as the continent experiences the world’s fastest population growth. According to the African Development Bank, rising food demand, rapid urbanisation and expanding intra-African trade could see the continent’s agricultural sector grow to more than US$1 trillion by 2030. However, limited access to fertilisers remains a key challenge for many small-scale farmers, constrained by financing gaps, poor infrastructure and underdeveloped markets.

 

Dangote Fertiliser’s expansion is positioned as a response to these challenges, aiming to reduce Africa’s dependence on imported fertilisers while supporting higher crop yields across the continent.

 

Mupita has led MTN Group, Africa’s largest mobile network operator, for more than five years, having joined the group in 2017 as chief financial officer. Prior to MTN, he held senior roles at South African financial services group Old Mutual and began his career as a trained engineer. His blend of engineering, finance and capital-markets expertise is expected to bolster Dangote Fertiliser’s governance and investor appeal ahead of its IPO.

 

Beyond fertiliser, Dangote Industries is also preparing to list its massive oil refinery business, a move Aliko Dangote has previously described as part of a broader strategy to raise capital, deepen transparency and attract institutional investors.

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