All licences and regulations

Licences and registrations by kind of business, then the rules to follow.

Licences and registrations come first, grouped by kind of business. Rules you just follow, with nothing to apply for, are listed separately at the bottom.

Most startups

Each one applies once you reach its point, or is optional.

ZIMRA · Tax authorityRegister with ZIMRANeededWithin 30 days of starting to trade. VAT once turnover passes US$25,000 a year.Tax clearance means clients pay you in full, and it opens government tenders.

What you get

Get paid in full: clients withhold 30% from suppliers without tax clearance (ITF263).
Bid for tenders and register with PRAZ, which both ask for tax clearance.
Claim back input VAT once you are VAT-registered.

All individuals, companies, partnerships and cooperatives starting a business must register. VAT starts once turnover passes US$25,000.

Register: mytaxselfservice.zimra.co.zw. You receive a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN).
Annual return: Self-assessment returns by 30 April of the following year.
Provisional tax: 25 March (10%), 25 June (25%), 25 September (30%), 20 December (35%).
VAT: Register if annual taxable turnover exceeds, or is likely to exceed, US$25,000 or the ZiG equivalent.
PAYE: Apply within 14 days of becoming an employer.
Records: Keep them for at least six years.
Tax clearance: The ITF263 is free and valid for 12 months. ZIMRA emails it to taxpayers who are up to date.
Without it: Companies and government withhold 30% of payments of US$1,000 or more to you (Income Tax Act s80).
Company tax: 25%, with a 3% AIDS levy on the tax charged (ZIMRA).
Transfer tax (IMTT): 1.5% on ZiG and 2% on foreign currency transfers, collected by your bank or mobile money provider.
Tax breaks: A Special Initial Allowance for SMEs: 100% in total (50% in year 1, 25% over each of the next two years) (ZIMRA).

Steps to comply

From the regulator's page or the law itself

Sign up on ZIMRA's Self Service PortalGo to mytaxselfservice.zimra.co.zw, click Sign Up, enter your details, activate via the emailed link, and log in with the verification code.
Register as an Organisation and attach documentsFill in the forms, upload the supporting documents and submit. A ZIMRA official reviews it. If approved, you receive your TIN.
Select your ZIMRA Single Account bankYou must hold an account at the bank you choose. The TIN then unlocks e-filing, e-payments and automated tax clearance.
Register for VAT and PAYE if they applyVAT is required once taxable turnover is, or is likely to be, over US$25,000 (apply on TaRMS). Register as an employer for PAYE within 14 days of hiring.
Diarise filing datesProvisional tax (ITF 12B) is due 25 Mar, 25 Jun, 25 Sep and 20 Dec. The annual return is due 30 Apr. VAT is due the 25th of the following month. PAYE is due within 10 days of month-end. ITF 16 is due within 30 days of year-end.

Check before you act. ZIMRA's pages do not list the documents to attach. No registration fee or approval timeline stated. The page says to keep records for 6 years.

Step sourceszimra.co.zw zimra.co.zw zimra.co.zw fingaz.co.zw allafrica.com ey.com

Check before relying on this. ZIMRA's page is undated and thresholds may have changed. ZIMRA's own pages were read for rates and incentives; IMTT figures are from press and EY summaries, and Treasury was reported to be considering a further cut. Sources disagree on whether VAT is 15.5%, so check that separately.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

POTRAZ · Telecoms and data regulatorData protection licenceNeededOnce you hold personal data on 50 or more people. The smallest licence tier starts at 50.A yearly POTRAZ licence for businesses that collect personal data: US$50 to US$2,500, set by how many people.

POTRAZ is the Data Protection Authority. If you decide why and how personal data is processed, or process it for commercial gain, you need a licence. That covers most apps, wallets, shops and platforms. The licence comes with duties: a certified data protection officer, breach reports within 24 hours, and telling POTRAZ before you send data abroad.

Law: Cyber and Data Protection (Licensing of Data Controllers and Appointment of Data Protection Officers) Regulations, 2024 (S.I. 155 of 2024), made under the Cyber and Data Protection Act [Chapter 12:07].
Tier 1: 50 to 1,000 data subjects: $50 a year. No application fee listed.
Tier 2: 1,001 to 100,000: $300 a year plus a $30 application fee.
Tier 3: 100,001 to 500,000: $500 a year plus $30 application.
Tier 4: More than 500,000: $2,500 a year plus $30 application.
Payment: In USD, or in ZiG at the official exchange rate.
Validity: 12 months. Renew on Form DP1 at least 3 months before expiry. POTRAZ decides applications within 14 days.
Exempt: Personal, family or household use. Law enforcement and journalistic, historical or archival work are exempt from the licence but must still register.
Penalty: Processing without a licence: a fine up to level 11, up to 7 years in prison, or both. The standard scale of fines (S.I. 14A of 2023, reported) sets level 11 at US$1,000 and level 7 at US$400, payable in local currency at the interbank rate. A later revision was not checked.
Data protection officer: Every licensed controller names a certified DPO on Form DP2. $1,250 for Zimbabwean citizens, $1,450 for international candidates. Training application fee $30 or $50. No DPO: a fine up to level 7, up to 2 years in prison, or both.
Breaches: Tell POTRAZ within 24 hours on Form DP3, and affected people within 72 hours if the risk to them is high.
Data abroad: Tell POTRAZ before transferring data outside Zimbabwe, for example to a foreign cloud or analytics service.
Children: Parental consent and reasonable verification for data of anyone under 18.

Steps to comply

From the regulator's page or the law itself

Confirm you determine purposes and means of processing personal dataControllers that decide why and how personal data is processed must be licensed (SI 155 of 2024, reg 4(1)); tier is set by number of data subjects.
Download and complete Form DP1 from POTRAZDP1 asks for entity details, DPO, data categories, legal grounds, processors, transfers abroad, safeguards, and ticks a document checklist (certificate of incorporation listed).
Submit DP1 in writing to POTRAZ with the Second Schedule feeApplication fee is USD 30 for Tiers 2 to 4 and none for Tier 1; payable in USD or ZiG at the official rate.
Pay the annual licence fee for your tierTier 1 (50 to 1,000 subjects) USD 50; Tier 2 USD 300; Tier 3 USD 500; Tier 4 (over 500,000) USD 2,500. Tier ranges per Techzim.
Expect a decision within 14 daysPOTRAZ may ask for more information, issue the licence (possibly with conditions) or reject with reasons (reg 4(3)-(4)).
Appoint a certified data protection officerPut them through a POTRAZ-approved course, then notify POTRAZ on Form DP2 and within 14 days of any change.
Set up breach reporting and transfer noticesReport breaches within 24 hours on Form DP3, and tell POTRAZ before sending data abroad. Get parental consent for anyone under 18.

Check before you act. No submission channel, email or portal address found (DP1 points to a registration guide at www.potraz.zw). POTRAZ Guidelines on Licensing of Data Controllers 2025 PDF could not be read. Full document checklist beyond certificate of incorporation not found. Tier 2 to 3 ranges only from Techzim.

Step sourcespotraz.gov.zw potraz.gov.zw potraz.gov.zw techzim.co.zw potraz.gov.zw potraz.gov.zw potraz.gov.zw dlapiperafrica.com potraz.gov.zw zimlii.org

Check before relying on this. The regulations do not say what applies below 50 data subjects. The PDF text has scanning artefacts, so check amounts against the Gazette. Existing controllers had to apply within 6 months of the September 2024 promulgation. Reports say POTRAZ Regulatory Notice 2 of 2026 starts risk-based inspections from 1 September 2026, beginning with banks, insurers, hospitals, schools, churches, NGOs and mines, checking licensing, cybersecurity and data governance. Business Times earlier said audits would come in Q4 2026, so the date is not settled. A vendor says CDPG 1 of 2025 makes staff training mandatory; we found only that one source.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

NSSA · Social securityNSSA registrationNeededWhen you hire your first employee.Register as an employer and pay pension contributions: 4.5% from you and 4.5% from each employee.

As soon as you take on an employee you register on the NSSA self-service portal and pay monthly. Domestic workers and non-resident foreign nationals are excluded from the pension scheme.

Register: Employers register through NSSA's self-service portal.
Pension (POBS): 4.5% employer plus 4.5% employee, on insurable earnings, for workers aged 16 to under 65. Compulsory even if the employee has a private scheme.
Earnings ceiling: US$700 a month, payable in ZiG at the interbank rate (S.I. 99 of 2024). NSSA says the figure is gazetted quarterly.
Workers' compensation: Employer-only premium on the whole wage bill, covering workers over 16. The rate depends on the industry and is gazetted yearly (farming is shown at 1.38%).
Filing: The P4 is e-filed monthly. Contributions fall due in the month wages are paid.
Penalties: NSSA says employers cannot recover penalties or interest from employees. No rates were found.

Steps to comply

From news and law-firm reports; no official procedure found

Create an employer account on the NSSA self-service portalUse the Employer SignUp and Company Registration links on nssa.org.zw (selfservice.nssa.org.zw).
Complete the five-step employer registration formSteps are main details (legal name, industry code, company type, first-employee start date, headcount, wage bill), contacts, banking, directors and contact person, then supporting documents.
Register within 30 days of becoming an employerCITE reports that registration gives the employer a Social Security Number. Then register each employee, who gets their own number.
Pay and file by the 10th of each monthSubmit the monthly NSSA P4 return on the portal and pay the pension (POBS) and workplace injury (APWCS, employer-paid) contributions.
Notify NSSA of changesReport employee address changes, terminations and deaths, and any business closure. Keep payroll records for inspectors.

Check before you act. NSSA's Contributions page failed to load, so no official rates, insurable-earnings ceiling or penalty amounts. The documents list in step 5 is not visible. The 30-day and 10th-of-month rules come from CITE, not NSSA.

Step sourcesnssa.org.zw selfservice.nssa.org.zw cite.org.zw

Check before relying on this. The ceiling may have changed in 2026; we could not confirm. The payment due date and late-payment rates were not found.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

Registrar · Companies registryRegister a companyVerifyOptionalWorth it once you want investors or to protect your personal assets.You can trade as a sole trader without it, but a company limits your risk and lets you take investors.

Why it's worth doing

Limit your risk: owners are not personally liable for the company's debts.
Take on investors by issuing shares.
Open a business bank account, register with PRAZ, and apply for POTRAZ or RBZ licences.

Most startups register a private limited company with the Registrar of Companies and Other Business Entities.

Sole trader: You can trade without registering, but you are personally liable for everything the business owes.
Entity types: Public limited, private limited, company limited by guarantee, co-operative, foreign company, private business corporation, and partnerships and similar groups.
Private limited: One source gives a limit of 50 shareholders.
Name: A name search costs a prescribed fee and takes three to six working days. A reserved name is held for up to one month.
Papers: Memorandum and articles of association signed by the shareholders in handwriting, a list of directors and notice of the company's address.
Result: Registration takes up to two weeks. You receive a certificate of incorporation.
Beneficial owners: A 2024 opinion piece says companies must keep a beneficial ownership register at a 20% threshold, file Form CR16, keep it with a Zimbabwe-resident nominee, and report changes within 7 days. Failure: a fine up to level 14, up to 5 years in prison, or both.
Registry name: A 2021 notice made the registry the Companies and Intellectual Property Office. Its current name was not confirmed.
Online: The Registrar has an online portal (named in a May 2025 article, no URL). Current fees were not found; the only figures are 2019 old-Act fees (US$5 name reservation, US$140 incorporation).

Steps to comply

From news and law-firm reports; no official procedure found

Reserve a company name with the RegistrarSubmit up to four names in order of preference (Form CR21 per Healy). The Registrar can hold a name for up to one month (COBE Act s.25).
Draft the Memorandum and Articles of AssociationThese set out the company's objects. The company needs a registered office at a physical address in Zimbabwe, plus a postal address (s.31).
File M&AA with Forms CR14 and CR6CR14 lists directors and the secretary (ID, DOB, address). CR6 gives the physical address. Filing is electronic (registered user) or manual (s.18).
Collect the Certificate of IncorporationThe Registrar assigns the registration number. Incorporation takes effect on the certificate date (s.19). DLA Piper's 2019 guide quotes 3-5 days.
Record and file beneficial ownersKeep a beneficial owner register (s.72) and file Form CR16. Per Business Times, report changes within 7 days. A Zimbabwe-resident person must maintain the register.

Check before you act. Fees quoted online (US$5 reservation, US$140 incorporation) date from 2019. The beneficial-owner threshold appears as both 'more than 20%' and 'at least 20%'. No official registry page or portal URL found. Fees are from a 2019 article (US$5 reservation, US$140 incorporation) and may be outdated. CR16 and the 7-day deadline come from an opinion article, and ss.72-73 text was not read. Beneficial-owner threshold is stated as more than 20% (ZimLII) and at least 20% (Business Times). Re-registration of pre-2019 companies is mentioned, but its deadline was not found.

Step sourcesdlapiperafrica.com healyconsultants.com zimlii.org businesstimes.co.zw lexafrica.com

Check before relying on this. Sources are law-firm guides and opinion pieces. They disagree on private business corporation member limits (under 20, or 1 to 20), and on re-registration deadlines (31 Dec 2024, or 20 April 2026 under S.I. 108 of 2025). Current fees and online steps were not confirmed.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

Banks · Your bankOpen a business bank accountOptionalWorth it once companies or government start paying you.No law requires it, but it's how companies and government will pay you.

Why it's worth doing

Get paid by transfer: RTGS, ZIPIT, EcoCash or card.
Build the record lenders look at for an SME loan.
Keep clean records for ZIMRA.

Most clients pay by bank transfer, and a bank record is what lenders look at for an SME loan. Reports say an RBZ policy ties council trading licences to having a bank account and a card machine.

Company documents: Certificate of incorporation, CR6, CR14, memorandum and articles, tax clearance or TIN, and each director's ID.
Proof of residence: Usually less than 3 months old, for each director.

Steps to comply

A general outline; the regulator publishes no procedure

Gather your documentsCompany papers (certificate, CR6, CR14, memorandum and articles), tax clearance or TIN, and directors' IDs and proof of residence.
Visit the bank with every directorMost banks ask all directors to attend to open a company account.
Ask for card and mobile money collectionsRequest a POS machine or merchant code so customers can pay you directly.

Check before you act. Document lists differ by bank, and sole-trader requirements are not published. The RBZ link to council licences is reported policy, not a statute.

Step sourcesonlinesupport.nmbz.co.zw

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

IP office · Trademarks, patents, copyrightProtect your name and brandOptionalWorth it before you spend on your brand.Software copyright is automatic and needs no registration. Trademarks and patents are registered at the IP office.

Why it's worth doing

Stop anyone else registering your name or logo as a trademark.
Software and content copyright is automatic: keep dated proof you made it.

Registration is optional, but a trademark is the only way to stop someone else registering your name. Fees below are from a 2022 guide and may have changed.

Copyright: Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act [Chapter 26:05]: computer programs are literary works. Protection is automatic, with no registration, and lasts 50 years for programs.
Trademark (USD per class): Application $200, publication $40, certificate $80, renewal $200. Term 10 years, with a 2-month opposition period.
Patent: National patent about $220 in total, 18 to 24 months, no substantive examination, 20-year term. ARIPO e-filing carries a 20% discount.
2025 changes: Amended IP regulations published 18 April 2025 reduce fees for women, students and SMEs. The amounts were not seen.
Collective licensing: A 2025 ZIMURA tariff of US$150 for cover bands was reported suspended; its status is unconfirmed.

Steps to comply

From news and law-firm reports; no official procedure found

Search the mark and classify goods under NiceA trademark attorney can run a search and assess registrability before filing; goods and services are listed by Nice class.
File the trade mark application at ZIPOFile via a licensed attorney with the Zimbabwe Intellectual Property Office, stating intention to use in Zimbabwe. Filing fee is USD 200 per Mondaq.
Pass examination and publicationZIPO examines for earlier conflicting marks and refusal grounds, then publishes in the Patent and Trade Mark Journal (about 6 to 8 months from filing; publication fee about USD 5 per word).
Wait out the two-month opposition window, then pay sealing feeOpponents have two months from publication. If unopposed, pay the USD 80 sealing fee and receive the certificate.
Renew every 10 years; keep evidence of software and content authorshipRenewal is USD 200 filed on time. Copyright is automatic; there is no compulsory registration, so keep dated deposits, source files and assignments.

Check before you act. No official ZIPO page was found or opened, so trade mark forms, address, online portal and current fees (2025 amending regulations) are unconfirmed. Copyright fee schedule and Form CNR 2 to 7 amounts unreadable; the Registrar's copyright register mainly records assignments and licences, and a copyright application section (reg 3) was not visible.

Step sourcesmondaq.com ksandk.com globallawexperts.com wipo.int

Check before relying on this. The IP office's name is unconfirmed (a 2023 guide says CIPZ; another source says the merger was not yet operational). Online filing was reported as unreliable in 2021.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

PRAZ · Public procurement regulatorRegister with PRAZ to sell to governmentOptionalNeeded only to bid for government tenders.Lets you bid for tenders from ministries, parastatals and councils.

Why it's worth doing

Bid for public tenders from ministries, parastatals and councils.
Pay a lower fee as a micro or small business.
Get a supplier number buyers can check.

The Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe keeps the register of suppliers that public bodies buy from. Supplier guides say you must be registered to bid. Registration is online, on the e-GP system.

Fee per year: Micro US$50, SME US$60, other local suppliers US$75, foreign suppliers US$850.
Expires: 31 December each year. Renew in January.
Documents: CR6, CR14, tax clearance (ITF263) and NSSA compliance.

Steps to comply

From news and law-firm reports; no official procedure found

Gather your documentsCR6, CR14, a current tax clearance (ITF263) and NSSA compliance.
Sign up on the e-GP systemCreate a supplier account at egp.praz.org.zw and choose your categories.
Pay and renew each yearPay the fee (reported as payable at CBZ), then renew every January.

Check before you act. The document list and validity come from consultants, not PRAZ. The fee per category and processing time were not confirmed, and the Act itself only sets up the register.

Step sourcesegp.praz.org.zw lucent.co.zw

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

Selling online and running platforms

Shops, marketplaces and apps with users.

POTRAZ · Telecoms and data regulatorA short code or USSD menuVerifyOptionalOnly if you want a short code or USSD menu.You rent the number from POTRAZ: from US$50 a year for a three-digit code to US$1,200 for a five-digit premium one.

If your service runs on a short code or special number, POTRAZ charges for the number itself on top of any licence.

Five-digit premium code: $1,200 application and $1,200 annual.
Three-digit code: $50 application and $50 annual.
Other special codes: $500 application and $500 annual.
Subscriber numbers: $0.05 per number for application and $0.05 per number a year.

Steps to comply

From the regulator's page or the law itself

Understand who appliesOnly network operators apply to POTRAZ. A service provider approaches its network operator, not POTRAZ, to get a short code.
Sign agreement with the network operatorIt covers revenue sharing, technical issues, short code purpose, preferred codes, required dates and planned start date.
Operator submits Number Application Form (PT1/PT2)Form is endorsed by management, with a signed letterhead letter stating purpose, preferred block, dates and current usage.
Pay annual code feesUSSD/non-premium 3-digit code US$50 per year; premium short code US$1,200 per year; before 15% VAT. The older fee PDF lists other special short codes at US$500.
File signed agreement with POTRAZ before launchThe operator must file it before the service provider offers services to the public.
Give 60 days' notice to change numbersAfter authorisation, issue a public notice before the change takes effect.

Check before you act. No processing time or online portal. The numbering page and fee PDF disagree on subscriber-number fee (US$0.10 vs US$0.05). Short codes are assigned on demand, but no turnaround is given. Contact the.regulator@potraz.gov.zw.

Step sourcespotraz.gov.zw potraz.gov.zw potraz.gov.zw

Check before relying on this. From the same undated fee table. Mobile operators may charge separately for access.

Sources

POTRAZ licence categories and fees (PDF)

Checked 2 Nov 2026

Payments, lending and crypto

Anything that holds, moves or lends money.

RBZ · Reserve Bank, paymentsMobile money approval (RBZ)NeededBefore you hold or move customers' money.Holding or moving customers' money needs the Reserve Bank to approve your payment system first.

If your product holds or moves customers' money, such as a wallet, remittance service or mobile banking, S.I. 80 of 2020 applies.

Law: Banking (Money Transmission, Mobile Banking and Mobile Money Interoperability) Regulations, 2020 (S.I. 80 of 2020), made under the Banking Act [Chapter 24:20].
Who must act: Mobile money providers are deemed financial institutions. Providers must obtain recognition of their payment system under section 3(1) of the National Payment Systems Act [Chapter 24:23]. Mobile network operators must also be licensed under the Postal and Telecommunication Act [Chapter 12:05].
Customer funds: Held in a bank account designated exclusively for mobile banking. No money may be transmitted without a matching correct bank balance.
Interoperability: Connect to the national payment switch as the Reserve Bank directs in writing.
Charges: No change to transaction charges without prior Reserve Bank approval.
Reporting: Periodic returns. Audit report after six months of operation, then every year. The Reserve Bank gets read-only real-time access.
Fees (2020): ZWL 5,000 application and ZWL 300,000 annual.
Penalty: A fine up to level 7, up to six months in prison, or both.

Steps to comply

From news and law-firm reports; no official procedure found

Pick the RBZ licence type for your activityWallet and e-money issuers need a Mobile Money Provider licence; domestic transfers need a Money Transmission Provider licence, under the Banking (Money Transmission) Regulations 2020.
Partner with a licensed Zimbabwean bankRBZ requires a non-bank applicant to partner with a bank of its choice and submit the application through that bank.
Compile the RBZ documents packOwnership structure, memorandum and articles, directors' net worth and police clearances, business plan, risk framework, AML/CFT policies, bank agreements, system architecture and pilot test results.
Submit to RBZ and pay feesLaw-firm guides report a US$5,000 application fee and an annual fee of 2% of gross turnover capped at US$50,000. RBZ's own page gives no amounts.
Do not pilot or launch before approvalRBZ says no pilot or live launch may happen without approval. One guide reports 3 to 6 months for approval, a segregated customer trust account, and connection to the national switch.

Check before you act. RBZ has no mobile-money-specific page, form or fee schedule. Fees come from a law-firm blog. The US$5m capital figure on regalert is labelled for deposit-taking microfinance institutions and may not apply. The 3 to 6 month timeline is not tied to a licence type. I did not open S.I. 17 of 2025.

Step sourcesafriwise.com regalert.today rbz.co.zw rbz.co.zw

Check before relying on this. The fees are 2020 figures in ZWL and are probably out of date. Minimum capital is not in the regulation. Payment aggregators, payment service providers and agents are not named, so ask the Reserve Bank which route applies to you.

Sources

S.I. 80 of 2020 (RBZ copy)

Checked 2 Nov 2026

RBZ · Reserve Bank, paymentsPayment service provider approval (RBZ)NeededBefore you process payments for others, even as a pilot.Processing payments for others needs Reserve Bank approval through a partner bank. No pilots before approval.

The Reserve Bank's 2016 Recognition Framework still sets the route for a fintech that processes payments but is not a bank or mobile network operator. No separate aggregator or gateway licence category was found.

Route: Non-banks apply through a partner deposit-taking institution (2016 Recognition Framework). No pilots or live launches without approval.
Capital and fees: "Adequate capital" with no figure, plus an application fee and an annual fee.
Customer funds: S.I. 80 of 2020 requires a dedicated bank account, with wallet funds held in the provider's trust bank account.
2026 circular: NPSD Circular 03/2026 (2 March 2026) requires payment service providers to align with the QR code guideline, with interoperability. Two further 2026 items (DFS Security Guidelines and Circular 02/2026) were listed but not read.
Penalties: Civil penalty orders, a criminal fine up to level 7 and 6 months, or withdrawal of recognition.

Steps to comply

From the regulator's page or the law itself

Partner with a licensed bankNon-bank payment providers must partner with a bank of their choice, and the application is submitted through that bank.
Prepare the RBZ Approval Requirements packGovernance and capital, business plan, risk framework, signed third-party contracts, clearing and settlement rules, pricing and customer-protection policies, AML/CFT, systems integrity and pilot results.
Add cross-border items if relevantCross-border payments need exchange control compliance. Foreign entities need a certificate of good standing from their home regulator.
Submit to RBZ at 80 Samora Machel Avenue, HarareRBZ states fees are set from time to time. A law-firm guide reports a US$5,000 application fee.
Get approval before any pilot or go-liveRBZ prohibits pilot tests and live launch without approval. A guide adds connection to the national switch and the RBZ Cybersecurity Framework 2021.
Alternative: apply to the RBZ fintech sandboxEmail fintech@rbz.co.zw, complete the eligibility checklist, apply, and expect a decision within 21 working days. Testing runs up to 24 months, and crypto is ineligible.

Check before you act. No official fee, form or timeline for recognition. The RBZ page covers retail payment system providers and does not name aggregators. regalert says no sandbox is available, which conflicts with RBZ's 2021 sandbox guidelines, so confirm with RBZ.

Step sourcesrbz.co.zw rbz.co.zw afriwise.com regalert.today rbz.co.zw

Check before relying on this. Whether the RBZ fintech sandbox is open in 2026 is not shown on any RBZ page found; it was announced for 1 March 2021. Minimum capital and the S.I. 80 fees (ZWL, 2020) are not current figures.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

RBZ · Reserve Bank, paymentsLending licence (microfinance)NeededBefore you lend money to customers. Unregistered loans carry no interest.Lending money as a business needs registration with the Reserve Bank's registrar. Unregistered loans earn no interest.

Anyone in the business of lending, whether they only lend or also take deposits, must be a company registered with the Registrar of Microfinance Institutions at the Reserve Bank. App-based lending and buy-now-pay-later fall under lending, so plan for registration.

Law: Microfinance Act, with Act 6 of 2019 folding moneylending into the same regime.
Who: A company registered with the Registrar of Microfinance Institutions, appointed from RBZ staff (ss4 to 6). The Registrar decides within 60 days (s7(4)). Credit-only registrations need renewal.
Offence: Unregistered lending: up to level 14 or 5 years, and the loan carries no interest (s6).
Capital: "As prescribed by regulation" (s33). One report puts deposit-taking institutions at US$5m core capital, another site says US$500,000; neither is confirmed. No credit-only figure or fees were found.
Mobile loans: RBZ's April 2026 mobile-money directives reportedly require USSD nano-loans to be underwritten by commercial banks and sit on bank balance sheets. They are addressed to mobile network operators.

Steps to comply

From the regulator's page or the law itself

Choose entity type and incorporateCredit-only applicants must be share-capital companies with a registered name. Partnerships, guarantee companies and trading-as names cannot apply, and NGOs need a separate company.
Raise and evidence minimum capitalCredit-only needs US$25,000 paid-up (RBZ 2025 requirements). RBZ's moneylender form states US$20,000, evidenced by a bank statement and Form CR2.
Assemble documents and vet peopleIncorporation documents, CR11 and CR6, shareholder register, source of funds, tax registration, leases, a business plan, manuals, and fitness and probity affidavits, clearances and net worth statements.
Apply in writing to the Registrar and pay US$300Email licensing@rbz.co.zw. Pay into RBZ account PL52041. The paper form goes to the Director, Bank Supervision, 80 Samora Machel Avenue, Harare.
Await the Registrar's decisionUnder the Microfinance Act s7(4) the decision is due within 60 days of a complete application. A refusal needs 30 days' notice for representations. A certificate states the registration conditions.
Meet post-registration conditionsAppoint an external auditor in year one, get prior approval for 5% shareholding changes and principal officers, keep capital, and run a visible complaints process.

Check before you act. RBZ does not state processing time, certificate validity or renewal steps. The 60-day limit is from the Act text. Deposit-taking requirements (reported US$5m capital) were not opened. The US$20,000 and US$25,000 figures differ between RBZ documents.

Step sourcesrbz.co.zw rbz.co.zw zimlii.org faolex.fao.org

Check before relying on this. Chapter numbering differs between sources, so it is left out. The Money Lending and Rates of Interest Act text could not be read, and no interest-rate cap or digital-lending rule for 2024 to 2026 was found.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

FIU · Financial Intelligence UnitCrypto business registration (FIU)NeededBefore you offer crypto exchange, transfer or custody.Crypto exchanges, wallets and custody services must register with the FIU: US$500 a year.

S.I. 99 of 2026 brought exchanges, transfer services and custody providers under anti-money-laundering rules. The FIU says registration is not permission to trade, so the Reserve Bank or SECZ may still need to authorise you.

Law: S.I. 99 of 2026: Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime (Virtual Asset Service Providers Registration) Regulations, 2026, gazetted 10 June 2026.
Who: Anyone providing services relating to virtual assets, including those who control a protocol or dApp. The applicant must be a Zimbabwe-incorporated entity; foreign groups need a local subsidiary (s4(3)).
Fees: No application fee. Registration US$500 (covers 12 months). Renewal US$400. All non-refundable.
Renewal: File within 90 days before expiry.
Penalties in the SI: Up to US$50,000 for governance and residence breaches and for not reporting a material change. Up to US$10,000 for a knowingly false application, plus a 6-month bar on reapplying.
Penalty in the Act: Operating unregistered: up to US$100,000 and/or 2 years (s3A(3), Money Laundering Act). Providers already operating could continue until 30 April 2026 (s3A(4)), which has passed.
Still needed: The Reserve Bank, SECZ and others may need to authorise your business separately.

Steps to comply

From news and law-firm reports; no official procedure found

Set up a Zimbabwean legal entityThe applicant must be incorporated in Zimbabwe, and foreign operators need a local subsidiary. Plan for two resident directors, a resident compliance officer and a registered place of business.
Compile the FIU application packIncorporation documents, IDs and police clearances for owners and directors, ownership chart, tax clearance, risk assessment, AML/CFT policies, and cybersecurity and data protection policies.
Submit to the FIU under s.4There is no application fee. The FIU decides within 90 days of a complete application. False information can lead to a six-month bar on reapplying.
Pay the registration fee on approvalFee capped at US$500, non-refundable. You receive a registration number, a certificate and a public register entry. The FIU may attach conditions.
Operate under the registration conditionsDisplay the certificate, with a QR code on digital platforms. Notify material changes within 48 hours. Renew within 90 days before the one-year expiry (US$400). Apply the Travel Rule.

Check before you act. I did not open the S.I. text. fiu.co.zw failed to load, so no portal, form or address was found. Reports say the FIU gave no compliance deadline. Registration is for AML/CFT only. SECZ licensing may also apply (Part VA, SI 63 of 2026).

Step sourcesmmmlawfirm.co.zw cryptoverselawyers.io gncrypto.news lexafrica.com

Check before relying on this. The SI has no commencement clause, so its effective date is not stated, and the text has drafting errors (a missing Third Schedule, wrong cross-references). The FIU's public notice could not be read. Fiat-only remittance does not clearly fall inside it.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

SECZ · Securities regulatorInvestment sandbox (SECZ)OptionalOnly if you want to test an investment or tokenisation product.Optional: test an investment or tokenisation product under SECZ supervision before applying for a full licence.

The sandbox lets approved solutions test within set limits. Admission does not promise a full licence.

Admitted: Zimbabwe Entrepreneurship Exchange (blockchain capital raising), Ndarama Standard (tokenization), Questview Brokers (synthetic trading), Crowdaxe Capital (crowdfunding), Procode Platforms, FINSEC and Colmin Resources (tokenization).
Limits: Participation is limited to testing approved solutions within defined parameters.
Licence: Admission does not guarantee a path to a full operating licence.
Guidelines: SECZ publishes sandbox guidelines on its website (seczim.co.zw).

Steps to comply

From the regulator's page or the law itself

Check fit with SECZ Regulatory Sandbox GuidelinesThe sandbox is a controlled, supervised, timed test of innovative products. Tokenisation, crowdfunding and synthetic trading firms were admitted in July 2026.
Complete the online SECZ Regulatory Sandbox FormFour sections: contact, company profile (turnover, staff, shareholders), the service and its risks, and any financial institution partner. Upload a PDF business plan.
Query the fintech team if neededThe SECZ notice lists fintech@seczim.co.zw and +263 242 870042-6 for contact.
Test only within approved parametersApproved participants test under SECZ oversight and monitoring, and SECZ may issue further directives. Admission is announced in a public notice.
Register before going commercialA news report says participants must still meet SECZ registration requirements, and that passing the test does not guarantee registration.

Check before you act. The Guidelines PDF was not found, so eligibility criteria, fees, decision time and test duration are unknown. The form page gives no post-submission steps. Whether this form is the sandbox entry point is inferred from the page title.

Step sourcesseczim.co.zw seczim.co.zw seczim.co.zw cointelegraph.com seczim.co.zw

Check before relying on this. Outlets disagree on how many of the seven focus on tokenization. Eligibility rules and legal basis were not read. Check the SECZ notice.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

Foreign money and foreign owners

Earning or paying in foreign currency, or foreign shareholders.

ZIDA · Investment agencyInvestment licence for foreign owners (ZIDA)NeededOnly if you are foreign-owned and in a reserved sector.Only foreign-owned businesses in reserved sectors, such as retail or haulage, need a ZIDA licence.

A General Investment Licence is not compulsory unless your activity is reserved. Retail, haulage, grain milling, shipping and forwarding, advertising, employment agencies and estate agencies are reserved sectors.

Licence: General Investment Licence under the ZIDA Act [Chapter 14:38]. Valid two years, with the project to start within 12 months.
S.I. 215 of 2025: Gazetted 11 December 2025. The regulator is the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
Thresholds: Retail US$20m and 200 jobs. Haulage US$10m and 100 jobs. Grain milling US$25m and 50 jobs. Shipping and forwarding US$1m and 20 jobs.
Existing owners: Foreign owners in reserved sectors must divest 75% over three years.
Not found: No general minimum investment threshold, and no ZIDA fees.

Steps to comply

From news and law-firm reports; no official procedure found

Check whether your sector is reservedReserved examples include passenger transport, retail and wholesale trade, estate agency, grain milling and artisanal mining. Retail and wholesale needs 200 employees and US$20m (Afriwise).
Incorporate locally and register with ZIMRAReserved-sector applicants must be registered in Zimbabwe, registered with ZIMRA, and hold a Bank Use Promotion Act-compliant account.
Apply for the investment licence on the ZIDA DIY portalUse zidainvest.com/zida-diy-investor-licensing-portal. Submit the completed ZIDA 1 form, a business plan, certified CR6/CR14/CR5, M&AA and the shareholder list.
Pay the feesA Zimbabwe embassy presentation states US$500 non-refundable on application and US$4,500 on approval, with about 4-5 days processing.
For reserved sectors, seek ministerial approvalLodge the application, business plan and proof of finances with the designated unit. The Minister decides within 60 days. Report a transfer of ownership to a foreign national within 7 days.

Check before you act. The ZIDA website itself was not opened, and the e-licensing news article was paywalled. Fees and timelines are from one embassy slide deck. Afriwise does not name ZIDA as the designated unit. The Regulations 2025 text was not read. A minimum investment amount for the general licence was not stated.

Step sourcesafriwise.com businesstimes.co.zw zimembassyberlin.gov.zw

Check before relying on this. Taken from a law-firm guide and a newspaper report. ZIDA's own site could not be read, and whether any ICT restriction applies was not confirmed.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

Internet and telecoms

Selling connectivity, airtime or radio devices.

POTRAZ · Telecoms and data regulatorInternet service provider (ISP) licenceVerifyNeededBefore you sell internet access to anyone.You need this POTRAZ licence to sell internet access. From US$50 for a community ISP to US$50,000 for a national one.

POTRAZ's fee table lists ISP categories by coverage area. Provincial, metropolitan, district and community tiers are listed as exempt from the annual levy.

Application: $50 for each ISP category.
Initial or renewal: National $50,000. Provincial $2,500. Metropolitan $5,000. District $1,000. Community $50.
Levy: National: 3.5% of gross turnover plus VAT. The other four tiers are listed as exempt.
Term: 20 years.
Categories: 1.4.5 National, 1.4.6 Provincial, 1.4.7 Metropolitan, 1.4.8 District, 1.4.9 Community.

Steps to comply

From the regulator's page or the law itself

Pick ISP level and watch for POTRAZ application windowISP licences (national, provincial, metropolitan, district, community) fall under Application Services 1.4. POTRAZ announces application deadlines from time to time.
Download and complete Converged Licence Application Form PT1Form must be signed by approved persons. Prepare a cover letter addressed to the Director General.
Compile one project proposal documentInclude CR14 and Certificate of Incorporation, market analysis, 5-year business plan, proof of financial capacity, services description, area of operation, and technical architecture with schematics.
Pay application fee and submitApplication fee is US$50 for every ISP level. Attach the receipt. POTRAZ checks attachments and notifies you of any missing documents.
Await evaluation, Board approval and Minister consultationEvaluation goes to Management, then the Board, then the Minister. No processing time is published.
Pay initial licence fee, then operate and pay turnover levyInitial fee: National $50,000; Provincial $2,500; Metropolitan $5,000; District $1,000; Community $50. National ISPs also pay 3.5% of gross turnover (USF plus annual fee); other levels are exempt. Tenure is 20 years.

Check before you act. No online portal found; submission method not stated beyond Director General address (1110 Perfomance Close, Mt Pleasant Business Park, Harare; the.regulator@potraz.gov.zw; +263 242 333032). Application window status in 2026 unknown. No processing time or renewal procedure. Page notes a Nov 2021 moratorium on certain spectrum-dependent licences; I did not read it. A 2024 Fingaz article reports POTRAZ consulting on a new ISP/MVNO licence category, which may have changed things.

Step sourcespotraz.gov.zw potraz.gov.zw potraz.gov.zw potraz.gov.zw potraz.gov.zw fingaz.co.zw

Check before relying on this. The PDF carries no date (its upload path suggests March 2022) and does not say which tier fits which business. Confirm the current schedule with POTRAZ.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

POTRAZ · Telecoms and data regulatorMobile network (MVNO) licenceVerifyNeededBefore you sell mobile services under your own brand.You need this POTRAZ licence to sell airtime, data or SIMs under your own brand. From US$500 for a reseller to US$50,000.

POTRAZ lists four virtual-network categories under converged licensing. The role definitions come from a 2017 proposal article, so confirm them before you choose a category.

Application: $50 each.
Initial or renewal: Full MVNO $50,000. Light MVNO $5,000. MVNE $500. Branded or reseller MVNO $500.
Levy: 3.5% of gross turnover plus VAT.
Term: 20 years.
Roles (2017 proposal): Full MVNO owns its core network. Light MVNO has none. Branded reseller handles branding and distribution only. MVNE hosts MVNOs and cannot sell to consumers directly.

Steps to comply

From the regulator's page or the law itself

Choose MVNO variantVariants are Full (1.4.1), Light (1.4.3), Branded/Reseller (1.4.4) and MVNE (1.4.2), all under Application Services.
Complete PT1 form and cover letter to Director GeneralUse the Converged Licence Application Form PT1, signed by approved persons.
Prepare proposal with company papers, business plan and technical descriptionInclude CR14, Certificate of Incorporation, 5-year plan, proof of financial capacity, and service and technical descriptions.
Pay US$50 application fee and submit when applications are openAttach the receipt. POTRAZ announces deadlines from time to time and notifies you of missing documents.
Pay initial licence fee after Board and Minister processFull $50,000; Light $5,000; Branded/Reseller $500; MVNE $500. Licences issue only after fees are paid.
Pay ongoing levy3.5% of gross turnover plus VAT (USF plus annual licence fee). Tenure is 20 years. Numbering needs a separate application.

Check before you act. No online portal, processing time or renewal steps found. Whether a full MVNO also needs host-network agreements or spectrum is not stated. The fee PDF is a 2022 schedule and may be outdated. Contact is the general POTRAZ address above.

Step sourcespotraz.gov.zw potraz.gov.zw potraz.gov.zw potraz.gov.zw

Check before relying on this. Undated fee table. Role definitions are from a 2017 article, not from the fee schedule.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

POTRAZ · Telecoms and data regulatorApproval for radio devicesVerifyNeededBefore you sell or import devices with radios (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM).Devices with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or GSM must be approved by POTRAZ before you sell them in Zimbabwe.

Anything that transmits by radio, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or Zigbee devices, is reported to need POTRAZ approval (homologation) before it is sold or used here. If you import or sell hardware, ask POTRAZ which of your devices are covered.

Radio equipment: S.I. 11A of 2001 (Licensing, Registration and Certification Regulations, as amended): type approval fee US$500 and dealer registration US$120. Regulation 34(2): "No person shall import, possess or deliver any radio transmitting station without a licence."
Process (lab): A testing lab says approval is mandatory, takes about 6 weeks, and needs no local representative or in-country testing.
Not found: Which devices need approval, the import-permit steps and current fees.

Steps to comply

From the regulator's page or the law itself

Check eligibility and dealer licenceImporters, manufacturers and agents may apply. Dealers need a Telecommunications or Radiocommunications Equipment Dealership Licence first. No approval is needed if the model is already approved.
Complete the Type Approval Application FormDownload the PDF form from POTRAZ. Write to the Director General with it.
Attach supporting documentsEnglish specifications and manuals, manufacturer or accredited-lab test reports, dealership licence copy for dealers, and regional approval certificates if any.
Pay US$500 per modelFee is before 15% VAT. Approval is granted once per model.
Provide sample if requestedA sample may be required and may not be returned. POTRAZ may test it in the lab.
Receive certificateIf the evaluation passes, POTRAZ issues a certificate and the equipment can enter the market.

Check before you act. No processing time, online portal or renewal rule stated. The page does not say exactly when the fee is paid. Dealer licence process not fetched.

Step sourcespotraz.gov.zw potraz.gov.zw

Check before relying on this. The US$500 and US$120 fees come from a 2001 instrument and may be out of date. The six-week lead time is from a commercial testing company's sales page. Confirm the device list and fees with POTRAZ.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

Transport and delivery

Moving people or goods.

POTRAZ · Telecoms and data regulatorCourier licenceNeededIf you deliver parcels or mail for others.Delivering parcels or mail for others needs a POTRAZ licence, priced by how far you deliver.

Section 32 of the Postal and Telecommunications Act [Chapter 12:05] bars anyone from running a postal or courier service without a licence, and S.I. 110 of 2023 sets the fees. If you run a delivery app, ask POTRAZ whether your model counts as a courier service.

Law: Postal and Telecommunications (Postal Services) (Amendment) Regulations, 2023 (No. 3), S.I. 110 of 2023, gazetted 16 June 2023.
Regional courier: US$250 application, US$5,000 licence.
Inter-city courier: US$100 application, US$1,000 licence.
Intra-city Class One: US$100 application, US$500 licence.
Intra-city Class Two: US$50 registration (rural district).
Domestic / international / general postal: Domestic: US$100 and US$3,000. International: US$250 and US$50,000. General postal: US$250 and US$100,000.
Term and levies: 10 years. Each licence also pays 2% of turnover as an annual fee plus 2% to the Universal Service Fund.
Enforcement: In 2021 a runner (malaicha) was arrested for operating without a licence, and POTRAZ said it planned regional, inter-city and intra-city courier licences.

Steps to comply

From the regulator's page or the law itself

Choose licence categoryOptions are Postal Services (General), International Commercial Courier, or Domestic Commercial Courier.
Download application form and requirements listBoth are on the POTRAZ Postal and Courier page. I could not read the requirements list itself.
Pay non-refundable application feeUS$250 for Postal General and International Courier; US$100 for Domestic Courier.
Submit application to POTRAZA licensing procedure flowchart exists on the page but only as an image, so its steps are unconfirmed.
Pay initial licence fee on awardPostal General $500,000; International Courier $50,000; Domestic Courier $10,000.
Pay monthly turnover charges2% annual licence fee plus 2% USF on gross turnover, due by the 10th of the following month. Indigenous firms pay in ZWL at the applicable rate.

Check before you act. The steps follow POTRAZ's current postal page (International courier US$50,000, Domestic US$10,000). The fees on this rule's card come from S.I. 110 of 2023 and use different categories. Ask POTRAZ which schedule applies before you pay anything. Requirements list and flowchart contents not read; no processing time, licence term or renewal info; no courier-specific contact.

Step sourcespotraz.gov.zw potraz.gov.zw

Check before relying on this. Fees were read through a summarising tool; check them against the gazetted SI. The SI does not mention delivery apps or malaicha, so whether your model needs a licence is for POTRAZ to confirm.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

Transport · Ministry and city councilsVehicle operator licenceNeededIf you run trucks over 10 tonnes, buses, taxis or tours.Trucks over 10 tonnes, buses, taxis and tours need an operator licence from the Commissioner of Road Transport.

The Road Motor Transportation Act sets who needs an operator licence. Delivery startups on motorbikes need the right driver's licence class, but no operator licence rule for them was found.

Who needs a licence: Goods vehicles over 10 t (or 10 t or less towing over 15 t combined), omnibuses, taxicabs and tours.
Also needed: Vehicle registration under the Vehicle Act and a certificate of fitness.
Term and issuer: Up to 3 years, issued by the Commissioner of Road Transport.
Penalty: Operating without a licence: up to level 9 and/or 6 months.
Motorbike couriers: Business Times (11 June 2026) reports that commercial delivery needs a Class A or A1 licence; a provisional licence does not permit it. It cites S.I. 119 of 2023 for the classes.

Steps to comply

From the regulator's page or the law itself

Confirm your vehicles need a licenceGoods vehicles above 10 tonnes (or combinations above 15 t), omnibuses seating over 7, hire taxis and organised tours or safaris need an operator's licence (s 2, s 7).
Get a certificate of fitness, insurance and vehicle licenceThe application must include a valid certificate of fitness, Road Traffic Act insurance and the fee (s 8(3)). Stage-carriage services also need a route authority.
Apply to the Commissioner of Road TransportUse the prescribed form, state the type of operation and whether it is wholly in Zimbabwe or partly abroad (s 8). A company still being formed may apply.
Respond to any refusal noticeBefore refusing, the Commissioner must allow representations and give written reasons on request. Appeal to the Administrative Court within 30 days (ss 9, 34).
After approval, display and renewThe licence lasts up to three years, expiring on 31 Jan, 31 May or 30 Sept. It is not transferable. Keep the fitness certificate and route authority displayed, and apply to renew (ss 10, 11, 14, 18).

Check before you act. The prescribed form, office address and processing time were not found. The US$125 three-year fee comes from a news report of SI 6 of 2026. Whether small delivery vans fall under the Act is not addressed (the 10 t threshold suggests not).

Step sourceszimlii.org equityaxis.net

Check before relying on this. Licence fees, ZINARA fees and Harare or Bulawayo delivery permits were not found.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

CAAZ · Civil aviationDrone registration (CAAZ)VerifyNeededBefore you fly drones for business.Drones must be registered and cleared by the Civil Aviation Authority, and cleared through customs when imported.

Commercial drone operators deal with the Civil Aviation Authority first, then customs. Broadcast drones need extra permits.

Law: Civil Aviation (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) Regulations, S.I. 271 of 2018. CAAZ's registration page says you apply for a letter of approval before registering. Fees are "in the Second Schedule" (CA Form 520 for the fee).
Scope: CAAZ's page limits use to personal, private, non-commercial purposes, so commercial operators should ask CAAZ what extra approval applies.
Fee (2019 report): Techzim reported a US$50 licence and renewal fee, 2-year validity and a minimum age of 18 in January 2019. This may be out of date.
Also reported: A volunteer site says insurance is required and flights are banned within five kilometres of an airport.
ZIMRA import: Bill of Entry Form 21 through a registered clearing agent. Form 49 may be used under US$1,000. A CAAZ clearance letter is required. Permits from BAZ and POTRAZ are listed for broadcasting drones.

Steps to comply

From the regulator's page or the law itself

Get CAAZ letter of approval before registeringCAAZ says no drone may be registered without a written approval application, with the SI 271 of 2018 fee. Documents: certified passport or ID, and proof of ownership, hire, lease or partnership.
Register the drone using CA Form 520Form 520 is for individuals. It limits use to private, non-commercial flying. Email pr@caaz.co.zw or post to P Bag CY 7716, Causeway, Harare. A drone must be registered before it flies.
Commercial or BVLOS use: seek separate CAAZ approvalOne reported delivery operator took six months: documentation and risk-assessment review, ATS engagement, demonstration flights, then an ops-spec amendment for BVLOS. No official checklist was found.
Get a remote pilot licenceReported 2019: about US$50 to issue or renew, valid two years, minimum age 18, flight logbook required. Check current fees with CAAZ.
Clear imports with ZIMRA using the CAAZ clearance letterGive CAAZ the make, model and serial number. Commercial imports use Bill of Entry Form 21 via a clearing agent (Form 49 if under US$1,000). Private imports clear at Customs counters. Invoice required.

Check before you act. CAAZ flight-permits page says 'Website coming soon'. Fee amounts, the applicant checklist, commercial operator permit steps and timelines are not published. Pilot licence details come from a 2019 article.

Step sourcescaaz.co.zw caaz.co.zw zimra.co.zw techzim.co.zw suasnews.com

Check before relying on this. The CAAZ regulation text was not read, so licence categories and current fees are unconfirmed, and CAAZ's site was reported as unreliable. ZIMRA's page frames the CAAZ licence as a question. Confirm with CAAZ directly.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

Media and content

Streaming, broadcasting and publishing.

BAZ · Broadcasting regulatorOnline broadcasting licence (BAZ)VerifyNeededIf you stream, webcast or run internet radio or TV.Streaming, web TV, internet radio and podcasts now fall under the Broadcasting Services Act. Check with BAZ before launch.

The Broadcasting Services Amendment Act No. 2 of 2025 was gazetted on 23 May 2025 and commenced by S.I. 73 of 2025. A pre-launch licence is likely for streaming, web TV and internet radio, but the text read has no explicit licence sentence.

Law: Broadcasting Services Amendment Act No. 2 of 2025, amending the Broadcasting Services Act [Chapter 12:06]. Commenced by S.I. 73 of 2025 (dated 15 July 2025).
Scope: "Internet-based broadcasting" is a service transmitted over the internet, including radio, TV and podcasts. It adds internet-based broadcasting and webcasting to the licence classes in s7(2).
Terms (reported): 10 years for public, commercial, community and subscription licences. 3 years for narrowcasting, datacasting and satellite.
Penalties: Only civil penalties through regulations (s46(2)), with amounts unstated.
History: A 2018 BAZ notice already invited applications for video-on-demand, webcasting and content distribution licences.

Steps to comply

From the regulator's page or the law itself

Identify your BAZ licence categoryBAZ defines a webcasting service as a computer-mediated broadcasting service. Video on Demand covers on-demand streaming. The 2025 Amendment Act brought internet broadcasting under BAZ.
Wait for or check BAZ's call for applicationsOne analysis says BAZ invites applications at least once a year, subject to spectrum availability, so a founder cannot apply on their own initiative. This is from an opinion piece.
Apply on the BAZ portal or the BS1 formCreate an account at apply.baz.co.zw and upload supporting documents. Or use the paper BS1 form from 27 Boscobel Drive West, Highlands, Harare.
Prepare and pay the feesUnder S.I. 103 of 2026, webcasting and on-demand services pay US$1,000 for application or renewal and US$3,450 annual regulatory fee. Subscription services pay more.
Await evaluation, then comply with licence conditionsBAZ's newsletter says a submission goes to evaluation and a decision, and approval brings a licence with conditions. Licensees file compliance reports, pay annual fees and follow content standards.

Check before you act. BAZ pages give no document list or timeline for webcasting. The documents in the newsletter are written for radio broadcasters. BAZ's own pages do not say whether podcasts or individual creators need a licence, and the FAQ answers did not load. The call-for-applications point is from an opinion piece, not the Act.

Step sourcesnew.baz.co.zw new.baz.co.zw new.baz.co.zw baz.co.zw baz.co.zw allafrica.com new.baz.co.zw

Check before relying on this. The definitions are criticised as vague, with a risk to bloggers and citizen journalists. BAZ's Q1 2026 newsletter gives no fees or deadlines for online services. Confirm with BAZ before you launch.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

Insurance

Insurance, pensions and medical aid.

IPEC · Insurance and pensions regulatorInsurance and pensions registration (IPEC)NeededBefore you sell insurance or run a pension or medical aid scheme.Selling insurance, or running a pension or medical aid scheme, needs IPEC registration first.

IPEC's Circular 13 of 2026 says the Amendment Act (Act No. 2 of 2026) took effect on 24 April 2026. IPEC publishes licensing checklists for insurers, brokers and agents, an online portal and a regulatory sandbox you can apply to join.

In force: Insurance and Pensions Commission Amendment Act, 2026 (Act No. 2 of 2026): gazetted and effective 24 April 2026. IPEC says transition guidance is to follow.
Who IPEC registers: Insurers, mutual insurance societies, brokers, medical aid societies (regulated for the first time) and pension and provident funds. It may approve actuaries, asset managers, credit rating agencies and other service providers.
Your route: IPEC's 2026 licensing checklists cover insurers and brokers, with separate lists for individual and corporate agents. No insurtech-specific category was found.
Sandbox: Business Times reported an IPEC regulatory sandbox on 16 May 2026, described as a controlled and supervised environment. Eligibility was behind a paywall.
Ownership: A control threshold of 10% of shares or voting rights, or the power to appoint directors.
Offences: Failing to give IPEC requested information: up to level 7 and/or 2 years. Brokers must give 14 days' notice before disposing of registered assets.
Related: S.I. 44 of 2026 (effective 27 February 2026) amends the Insurance Regulations with new board rules for insurers and brokers (reported).

Steps to comply

From the regulator's page or the law itself

Clear your company name with IPEC firstThe checklist says to clear the name before registering the company with the Registrar of Companies.
Pay the application fee, then apply onlineUS$ fees by class: broker 552, short-term insurer 600, microinsurer 230, life 522, multiple agent 322. Submit via IPEC's Online License Application portal.
Submit the checklist packIncorporation documents, capital proof (broker or microinsurer US$100,000; short-term US$750,000; life US$2m), shareholder and director clearances, a business plan, and manuals. Any 'No' on the checklist means not ready.
Pay the registration fee on approvalBrokers pay US$5,522 and microinsurers US$1,472. IPEC sets no processing time. Individual agents pay US$138 and need A-level or a diploma.
For a pension fund, apply to the CommissionerUse the prescribed form with two copies of the fund rules. Provisional registration lasts at most six months, and full registration brings a certificate and endorsed rules.
Optionally apply to the IPEC sandboxApply through the portal on ipec.co.zw. Cohort Two ran 13 May to 30 June 2026, so wait for a new window.

Check before you act. The checklist opened is the 2023 version, and the page lists a 2026 one that I did not open, so fees and capital may have changed. Pension fund fees (S.I. 22 of 2016) were not stated. The sandbox guidelines were too long to fetch. Sandbox duration, fees and the portal steps are unknown. The sandbox timing comes from FSD Africa, which is not the regulator.

Step sourcesipec.co.zw ipec.co.zw ipec.co.zw ipec.co.zw ipec.co.zw fsdafrica.org

Check before relying on this. The Act does not mention insurtech or digital distribution. IPEC fees and processing times were not checked because the checklist PDFs were not opened.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

Education

Schools, colleges and online courses.

Education · Schools and higher educationSchool registration and course accreditationVerifyNeededIf you run a school or offer a higher education programme.Private schools must be registered, and every higher education programme needs ZIMCHE accreditation before it is offered.

Nothing was found on online-only schools. The March 2026 online-degree standards cover conventional universities, not new providers.

Schools: Non-government schools must be registered under Education Act s15 [Chapter 25:04] and may operate only on specified premises (s20). The registering authority and penalties were not confirmed.
Higher education: ZIMCHE accredits each programme before it is offered, and fees must be paid first (amounts not stated). Online-degree standards were approved on 25 March 2026 and cover conventional universities only.
Training colleges: Government closed 368 colleges and training centres in September 2024 for lacking documents under the Manpower Planning and Development Act (reported). No TEVETA or HEXCO route for online providers was confirmed.

Steps to comply

From the regulator's page or the law itself

Register a school under the Education Act s 15Non-Government schools need registration or provisional registration, a certificate, and may operate only at the premises it names (ss 15, 19, 20). The Act's procedure text was not readable.
Collect ZIMCHE forms PRC1 to PRC3 for a new institutionPRC1 gives the criteria. PRC2 is provisional registration for a private university and PRC3 for a foreign university's agent. An application fee applies.
Submit charter, business plan, regulations and site planZIMCHE reviews, asks for amendments, and visits the site. Foreign-university agents add proof of parent accreditation and the agreement.
Submit the programme accreditation applicationProvide a letter, programme regulations, entry requirements, course outlines, staffing, stakeholder evidence, registrar and bursar letters, enrolment, library and ICT details.
Go through peer review and site visit to accreditationThree peer reviewers assess it, the institution revises, ZIMCHE visits, and the Council chairperson issues the accreditation letter. Prescribed fees must be paid first.

Check before you act. Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education steps, forms and fees were not found (Herald articles failed to load). ZIMCHE fee amounts, timelines and address are not published. An app with no physical school may not need school registration, which sources do not address.

Step sourceszimche.ac.zw zimche.ac.zw zimche.ac.zw zimlii.org

Check before relying on this. Treat all of this as leads to confirm with the Ministry or ZIMCHE.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

Property

Rentals, sales and listings.

EACZ · Estate Agents CouncilEstate agent registrationVerifyNeededIf you negotiate deals or collect rent or deposits for others.Negotiating property deals, or collecting rent or deposits for others, needs Estate Agents Council registration.

Negotiating deals, valuing property and collecting rent or deposits for others all count as practising as an estate agent. A platform that only lists properties, without handling deals or money, may not need to register: ask the Estate Agents Council.

Offence (s60): An unregistered person who practises or holds themselves out as an agent: the greater of three times the commission or a level-8 fine, and/or up to 1 year in prison.
Foreign ownership: Estate agencies are a reserved sector under S.I. 215 of 2025.
Platform terms: One portal's terms mention a fidelity certificate and a trust account, which we could not verify.

Steps to comply

From the regulator's page or the law itself

Check you qualify under s 25Age of majority, a passed exam or recognised qualification, Schedule experience, and no dishonesty conviction in the past five years.
Apply to the Registrar with documents and feeSection 27 requires prescribed documents, identity evidence and the fee. The Registrar refers it to the Council (s 28), which decides (s 29).
Agencies: appoint a principal agent and prepare company papersReported: a PREA who is a director, tax clearance, police clearance for directors, CR6 and CR11, EAC 3 form, trust-account bank letter, accountant letter.
Open a trust accountEvery practising agent must hold a separate trust account at a commercial bank and bank client money within six days (s 51).
Obtain a Compensation Fund certificateApply and pay the contribution before practising. It is valid to 31 December each year (s 41).

Check before you act. No Council site or form was opened. Fees (a blog says about US$200-500 initial, US$100-300 renewal) and agency checklist details are unofficial. The unread last 13,000 characters of the Act may hold the Schedule. Whether a listings platform itself needs registration is unaddressed.

Step sourceszimlii.org zimlii.org propertybook.co.zw

Check before relying on this. No official statement on whether a listings portal must register was found. A commission-earning or rent-collecting model would likely be caught.

Sources

Estate Agents Act (ZimLII)

Checked 2 Nov 2026

Farming

Inputs, produce and storage.

Agri · Agricultural registrationsFarm input and warehouse registrationVerifyNeededIf you sell fertiliser, feed or remedies, or issue warehouse receipts.Fertiliser, feed and remedies must be registered before sale, and warehouses issuing receipts need a licence.

If your platform sells inputs or issues warehouse receipts, two registrations matter. Nothing specific was found on contract farming or digital marketplaces.

Inputs: Fertilisers, feeds and remedies must be registered with the Fertilizer, Farm Feeds and Remedies Institute: fertiliser US$100, feed US$75, renewed annually, with a late-renewal penalty equal to the fee.
Warehouse receipts: The Warehouse Receipt Act [Chapter 18:25] requires warehouse registration and manager licensing, for the commodities in its Schedule. Penalty up to level 6 and/or 1 year.
ZMX: The Reserve Bank gave ZMX's receipt system liquid asset status in June 2023 (reported).

Steps to comply

From the regulator's page or the law itself

Fertilizers: submit sample and package to FFRI with Form F.F.1Send about 500 g and the package, pay the nutrient-based analysis fee, and file F.F.1 in triplicate. Address: Research Services Dept, FFRI, Fifth St Extension, Causeway, Harare.
Pay registration fee and receive certificateAfter results are recommended, pay US$100 (fertilizer) or US$75 (feeds; analysis US$60). Renew annually with F.F.2. Late renewal is penalised.
Pesticides: assemble manufacturer dossier and trialsOnly a registered company with inspected warehouses can apply. Needs an experimental import permit, lab analysis and three seasons of efficacy trials, then Form P1 and labels. Valid three years.
Warehouse operators: apply to the Registrar of WarehousesOnly bodies corporate can apply. Include articles, warehouseperson qualifications, financial capacity, warehouse plans, insurance and fee. The Registrar decides within 15 days (s 4).
Get warehousepersons licensed before issuing receiptsOnly a licensed warehouseperson may issue warehouse receipts (ss 10, 15). Pay annual fees per warehouse and per warehouseperson. The Registrar inspects yearly.

Check before you act. FFRI processing times and seed-registration steps were not found. Warehouse registration and licence fee amounts are prescribed elsewhere and not found. Fertilizer imports also need a Control of Goods certificate. The 2007 Act text was not checked for later amendments.

Step sourcesesw.gov.zw zimlii.org

Check before relying on this. A September 2025 report says some agricultural levies and permits were cut, but not which ones.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

Tourism

Lodges, hosts and bookings.

ZTA · Tourism authorityTourism registration (ZTA)NeededIf you run a lodge or other tourism facility. Booking platforms once the 2026 Act starts.Lodges, hotels and other tourism facilities must register with ZTA. A new Act will extend this to booking platforms.

Registering designated tourism facilities with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority is already mandatory, and a new Act published on 18 September 2026 widens it to online hosts and platforms.

Current law: Registration is mandatory under s36 of the Tourism Act [Chapter 14:20]. A 2026 compliance drive had a deadline of 28 February 2026, with a new blitz announced on 7 October 2026. Fees were "significantly reduced" (no amounts given).
New Act: Tourism Act No. 5 of 2026 was published on 18 September 2026 and takes effect on a date to be fixed by statutory instrument.
Platforms and hosts: Hosts must register before listing. Platforms must ensure their hosts are registered. Existing platforms get 90 days to comply.
Penalty: Operating without registration: a level-12 fine and/or 1 year (s23).

Steps to comply

From the regulator's page or the law itself

Confirm you are a designated tourist facilitySection 36 of the Tourism Act [Chapter 14:20] requires registration of tourism-related businesses. The ZTA notice gave a 28 Feb 2026 deadline, with inspections from 1 March.
Get the registration formZTA's site has a Registration Form page (zimbabwetourism.net/registration-forms/). Its downloads did not display when opened. Ask ZTA for the form.
Submit by email or in personEmail registration@ztazim.co.zw or visit any ZTA office. Government says fees were cut across all categories, but no amounts are given.
Prepare for inspection and gradingZTA inspects for registration and grading. Accommodation grading is reported to occur every two years or after major refurbishment.

Check before you act. Document list, fee amounts, categories, timelines and any online portal were not found. Whether an online booking platform that owns no facility must register is not stated. Renewal terms were not found.

Step sourceszimbabwetourism.net zimbabwetourism.net atta.travel

Check before relying on this. The commencement date and ZTA fee amounts are not confirmed, and the new Act's details come from a law-firm blog.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

Energy

Solar, generation and power sales.

ZERA · Energy regulatorEnergy registration or licence (ZERA)VerifyNeededIf you generate 100 kW or more, or sell electricity.Generating 100 kW or more needs ZERA registration before you build. Above 10 MW you need a licence.

S.I. 126 of 2026 (31 July 2026) sets the capacity rules for own-consumption plants. ZERA's June 2026 guidelines say undertakings above 100 kW must be licensed, which conflicts, so ask ZERA which prevails.

Licence categories: Generation, transmission, bulk supply, distribution and retail supply (ZERA Licensing Guidelines, revised June 2026).
Fees (US$, excl. VAT): Application US$20 per licence. Own-consumption and non-commercial off-grid generation: no licence fee. Retail supply 40,000. Bulk supply 50,000. Renewable commercial plants under 10 MW: no licence fee. Above 10 MW, solar PV 2,875 fixed plus 1,437.50 per 25 MW. Amendment, transfer or renewal 2,000.
S.I. 126 of 2026: Above 10 MW: a licence. 100 kW to 10 MW: register on Form GFOC1 before construction, with a grid impact report, proof of land and an EIA or EMA exemption letter; Form GFOC2 with a commissioning certificate. The registration fee is printed "US$10,00".
Solar products: ZERA's product registration portal covers modules, batteries, inverters, charge controllers, pico-solar and home system kits, citing IEC standards. It is aimed at importers and dealers. No fees or dates were stated.
Environment: EMA requires an environmental impact assessment for thermal and hydro power stations and high-voltage lines; solar and e-waste are not mentioned. Hazardous Waste Regulations allow disposal only at licensed sites.

Steps to comply

From the regulator's page or the law itself

Pick your route by size and purposeReported on S.I. 126 of 2026: own-use generation of 100 kW to 10 MW registers; above 10 MW needs a full licence. ZERA's generation form says licences are needed above 100 kW, so confirm with ZERA.
Register before building with Form GFOC1Reported attachments: grid impact assessment, company papers, land access proof, EIA or exemption letter, US$10 fee. ZERA lists the form under Guidelines & Regulations.
Build, then file GFOC2 before switching onGFOC2 is the notification to operate, with a commissioning certificate. ZERA reportedly publishes a quarterly list of registered facilities.
Generation licence route: email ZERA the applicationForm revised 10 July 2026 (application fee US$20 plus VAT). Email electricitylicensing@zera.co.zw, or deliver to Mount Pleasant Business Park, Harare. Needs business plan, tax clearance, grid assessment, EIA.
Importers: register each solar product on the ZERA portalCompanies that import and sell solar products create a profile at solarprs.zera.co.zw and submit standard-compliance evidence. After approval, download the certificate; it is listed publicly.

Check before you act. The GFOC1 and GFOC2 forms and S.I. 126 were not opened. Their steps come from a ZELA article. Sub-100 kW rules, installer licensing, solar product fees, test-report lists and timelines are not published. S.I. 121 of 2026 (renewable energy engineer category) was not checked.

Step sourceszera.co.zw zela.org zera.co.zw solarprs.zera.co.zw

Check before relying on this. Net-metering and surplus-sale rules, mini-grid classification, installer licensing and fuel retail were not found. The EMA review fee is printed unclearly ("1, 5%").

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

Rules to follow (11)Not licences: nothing to apply for, but the law expects these once they apply to you.

Labour · Labour ActRule to follow, not a licenceEmployment rulesAppliesWhen you hire your first employee.Give written terms, follow the notice periods and pay at least your industry's minimum wage.

The Labour Act [Chapter 28:01] and industry employment council agreements set the floor for pay, leave and dismissal, even in a small team.

Contracts: Oral contracts are valid, but employers must give written particulars on engagement (s12(2)), including probation terms.
Notice (s12(4)): 2 years or more: 3 months. 1 to 2 years: 2 months. 6 to 12 months: 1 month. 3 to 6 months: 2 weeks. Under 3 months or casual: 1 day.
Leave: Vacation leave 1 month a year after the first year. Sick leave 90 days full pay plus 90 days half pay. Maternity leave 98 days. Special leave up to 12 days.
Minimum wages: Set by industry (S.I. 70 of 1996, reviewed by S.I. 186 of 2024). Employment council agreements bind all employers in the industry.
Changes: Labour Amendment Act 11 of 2023 (gazetted 14 July 2023) added hourly contracts and set retrenchment packages. Retrenchment Regulations S.I. 191 of 2024: at least one month's pay per year of service.

Steps to comply

From the regulator's page or the law itself

Give each new hire written particulars on engagementLabour Act s.12(2) requires employer name and address, pay and pay intervals, hours, and the terms of any employment code. Chambers adds contract period, probation, leave and benefits.
Set any probation up frontA written contract may include one non-renewable probation of up to 3 months (s.12(5)).
Apply the statutory notice periodsNotice runs from 1 day (under 3 months' service) to 3 months (2 years or more), with pay in lieu allowed (s.12(4)).
Grant statutory leaveChambers lists vacation leave (s.14A), 90 days of sick leave on full pay (s.14), and 98 days of maternity leave (s.18).
Check for a sector employment council agreementIf a National Employment Council agreement is gazetted for your industry, it binds all employers in that sector, including minimum wages (Chambers).

Check before you act. No source states a procedure for registering an employer with an employment council, and Chambers does not say registration is required. The ZimLII text ended before the sections on councils. Check with your sector NEC. Works councils (s.25A) apply only where a workers committee exists.

Step sourceszimlii.org practiceguides.chambers.com

Check before relying on this. From a 2026 law-firm practice guide. Probation length was not confirmed in any source read, and no 2025 or 2026 amendment was found.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

Consumer · Consumer Protection ActRule to follow, not a licenceConsumer protection rulesAppliesWhen you sell to consumers, online or offline.Show who you are and the full price, and let online buyers cancel for a refund.

The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 [Chapter 14:44] applies to online shops. Build disclosure, a secure payment system, the cooling-off right and an unsubscribe option into your checkout and marketing.

Disclosure (s52): Online sellers must disclose their identity and the full price and use a secure payment system. If they do not, the consumer can cancel within 7 days.
Cooling-off (s53): A right to cancel any electronic transaction, with a refund within 14 days.
Advertised price (s26(5)): A consumer shall not pay more than the advertised or displayed price, including taxes and levies. Exceptions: prices fixed by law, a price hidden behind a second price, or an erroneous price the supplier tried to correct.
Marketing (s54): Unsolicited electronic commercial messages must offer an unsubscribe option and disclose where you got the recipient's data. Do not message anyone who has objected. Offence: up to level 5 or 6 months. It is an opt-out rule, not a prior opt-in.
False claims (ss31, 36): Misleading trade descriptions and false representations are prohibited; knowing misrepresentation carries up to level 14 or 6 months.
Advertising: The Advertising Standards Authority of Zimbabwe is a self-regulatory body working from a 1994 code. No statutory online-ad or influencer rule was found.

Steps to comply

From the regulator's page or the law itself

Confirm the Act covers youConsumer Protection Act [Chapter 14:44] covers promotion and supply in Zimbabwe whether the supplier is local or foreign (s3). Online and electronic sellers are included.
Show prices including all taxes and leviesEvery item must display a price, you cannot charge more than displayed, and displayed prices must include taxes and levies (s26).
Describe goods accurately and give written termsNo misleading descriptions (ss31, 36); give a free copy or electronic access to terms and an itemised cost breakdown (s44(2)); sales records need your name, VAT number, address (s32).
Offer a cooling-off right on direct-marketing salesConsumers may rescind within five business days without reason or penalty; refund within fifteen business days (s25(3)-(4)). Listed exclusions apply.
Drop 'no refund' disclaimers; provide marketing opt-outDisclaimers such as no refunds or no returns are unlawful (s42); consumers can stop direct marketing (ss49-50). Complaints go to the Consumer Protection Commission (s6).

Check before you act. The steps say a five business day cooling-off on direct-marketing sales (s25(3)). The card above says 14 days (s53), and one law-firm guide says 7. The Act's text and its later amendments disagree across sources, so check the current wording. ZimLII text was only read to s51, so enforcement, compliance notices and offences were not seen. No seller registration or fee found. A Mondaq guide cites a 7-day cooling-off under Chapter 14:14; the ZimLII Act text says five business days, so check the current text.

Step sourceszimlii.org mondaq.com

Check before relying on this. An earlier 2022 law-firm note gave a flat 7-day cooling-off under sections 52 to 54; the Act text as summarised here splits it between ss52 and 53. Check the sections against the Act. Remedies and the Consumer Protection Commission's powers were not covered.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

POTRAZ · Telecoms and data regulatorRule to follow, not a licenceRules for content your users postAppliesIf people can post content on your platform.Take down illegal content once a court orders it or you learn of it.

The Cyber and Data Protection Act [Chapter 12:07] rewrote sections 163 to 166 of the Criminal Law Code and added intermediary rules. Platforms with user posts, comments or images should plan moderation and takedown around these.

Offences named: Inciting violence, threats, cyber-bullying (s164B), false data messages about an identifiable person, spam (s164D, level 5 or 1 year), intimate images shared without consent (s164E), racist or xenophobic material (s164F, level 14 or 10 years), child sexual abuse material (s165A) and exposing children to pornography (s165B).
Access providers: Immune if they did not start the transmission, choose the recipient or change the content (s379C, Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act).
Hosts: Not liable if they promptly remove content after a court order, or promptly tell the authority once they know it is illegal. Failing to remove is an offence (level 8 or 2 years). Knowingly facilitating unlawful content is level 14 or up to 10 years.
Monitoring: No general duty to monitor appeared in the text read.

Steps to comply

From the regulator's page or the law itself

Know the offences that apply to your productCriminal Code ss163-165B, substituted by the Cyber and Data Protection Act s35, cover hacking, data interference, malware, harassment, false data messages, spam, intimate images, racist material and child abuse material.
Set up a way to receive illegal-content notices and court ordersA hosting provider avoids criminal liability for user content only if it promptly removes or disables access on a court order, or promptly informs the appropriate authority on becoming aware (CPEA s379C(3)).
Remove or disable access promptly when requiredFailing to remove content as required is an offence: fine up to level 8 or 2 years (s379C(6)); similar duties apply to caching and linking providers.
Never knowingly host, store or link unlawful contentKnowingly enabling access to unlawful content carries up to level 14 or 10 years (s379C(11)).

Check before you act. The Act sets no formal takedown procedure, form, deadline in hours, or named reporting authority beyond 'the appropriate authority'. Last 10,000 characters of the Act text were not read. No regulator guidance found.

Step sourceszimlii.org

Check before relying on this. Read through a summarising tool, so check section numbers and penalty levels against the Act. The Censorship and Entertainments Control Act [Chapter 10:04] needs Board approval for films and a licence for video distributors; whether it reaches streaming, games or app stores is unclear.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

ZIMRA · Tax authorityRule to follow, not a licenceTax on foreign digital servicesAppliesIf a foreign platform sells digital services to your customers, or to you.Foreign platforms that aren't VAT-registered here have 15.5% withheld. It matters if you buy from, or compete with, one.

ZIMRA guidance reportedly names platform-based transport hailing among covered services. It matters if your platform, or a platform you depend on, is foreign-operated.

Effective: 1 January 2026.
Rate: 15.5% where the foreign supplier is not VAT-registered in Zimbabwe.
Covered: ZIMRA guidance names platform-based transport hailing services.

Steps to comply

From news and law-firm reports; no official procedure found

Work out whether you are a foreign digital seller, a local seller or an intermediaryFrom 1 Jan 2026 (Finance Act, VAT Act s13A) intermediaries such as banks and mobile money operators withhold on payments to foreign digital suppliers; payments to local providers are exempt.
Non-resident sellers over USD 25,000 in 12 months register for VATRegistration is on ZIMRA's TaRMS portal: Taxpayer profile, New Tax Type, VAT. It needs a TIN, sales schedule, bank statement and a public officer letter. Collect VAT at 15.5%.
Get onboarded to fiscalisation and issue fiscalised invoicesVAT-registered non-resident suppliers must issue fiscalised tax invoices and join the Fiscalisation Data Management System.
If not VAT-registered, expect 15.5% withheld at paymentBanks withhold 15.5% when the foreign seller is not VAT-registered, or 3/23 if registered. Registered sellers credit withheld amounts against VAT.
Intermediaries remit to ZIMRA and issue withholding certificatesIntermediaries remit to the Commissioner-General, keep payment records and cooperate with verification; ZIMRA reconciles VAT returns against withholdings.

Check before you act. Some figures come from press reports of ZIMRA Public Notice 05 of 2026, which was not found on zimra.co.zw. Treat deadlines as unconfirmed. ZIMRA Public Notice 05 of 2026 itself was not found on zimra.co.zw, so the withholding remittance deadline, intermediary registration process and VAT return due dates are unconfirmed. Business Times separately reports a 5% s12A tax on non-resident e-commerce operators with a representative taxpayer, payable quarterly; not verified officially.

Step sourceskpmg.com fonoa.com zimra.co.zw firstcapitalbank.co.zw businesstimes.co.zw

Check before relying on this. Reported by one outlet. Read ZIMRA's guidance for what counts as a covered digital service.

Sources

Nehanda Radio on taxes and arrests (13 Aug 2026)

Checked 2 Nov 2026

ICT · Digital law reformRule to follow, not a licenceElectronic contracts and signaturesAppliesIf you sign contracts or take orders online.There's no e-signature law yet, but most contracts can be signed electronically. Property deeds still need originals.

Most contracts can be signed electronically in practice, but notarial and registered instruments under the Deeds Registries Act need originals.

Bill: Cabinet approved the principles of an Electronic Transactions and Electronic Commerce Bill on 21 September 2021. A 2016 draft exists.
In practice: A 2025 contracts guide says most contracts can be executed electronically, but notarial and registered instruments need originals.

Steps to comply

A general outline; the regulator publishes no procedure

Do not assume a dedicated e-signature law appliesA 2025 academic article says Zimbabwe has no statute on electronic contracts or signatures, and the Electronic Transactions and Electronic Commerce Bill is not enacted. Veritas (Feb 2026) lists it as unpublished and still being drafted.
Keep strong evidence of each online contractRecord the signatory's identity, intent, timestamps and an unaltered copy. This is a practical outline, not a published government process.
Follow consumer rules for online termsUnder the Consumer Protection Act, give consumers free electronic access to the written terms (s44(2)); notices may be served by email (s2(2)).
Use wet signatures where certainty mattersFor high-value or formal documents, consider paper signing until the Bill is enacted, and take local legal advice.

Check before you act. No official filing process exists. A vendor blog (blog.flowmono.com) claims an Electronic Transactions Act [Chapter 8:20] of 2022 with POTRAZ-accredited certification authorities; it contradicts Veritas and the journal article and could not be confirmed on ZimLII, so it was not used. No POTRAZ certification authority process found.

Step sourcesscielo.org.za veritaszim.net techzim.co.zw zimlii.org

Check before relying on this. Passage in 2025 or 2026 was not found, but a newer bill may exist.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

FIU · Financial Intelligence UnitRule to follow, not a licenceKnow-your-customer rulesAppliesOnce you run payments, lending, crypto or investments.Payments, lending and crypto businesses must verify customers and keep records for 5 years.

The Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act [Chapter 9:24], amended in 2025, binds financial institutions and a list of designated businesses. Design onboarding around it from day one.

Identify (s15): Verify customers when a relationship opens, for transactions of US$5,000 or more by people without an account, for wire transfers of US$1,000 or more, and on suspicion. Beneficial owners must also be verified.
Records (s24): Keep records for 5 years.
Penalty (s23): Failure to identify: a fine up to US$100,000 and/or 3 years.
Risk (s12B): Institutions must run risk assessments (substituted by Act 7 of 2025).
Designated businesses (s13): Gaming operators, estate agents, dealers in precious stones and metals, legal and accounting professionals, trust and company service providers, and motor vehicle dealers.
Supervision: By supervisory authorities under the FIU (s3). No general FIU registration regime for non-crypto fintechs was seen.

Steps to comply

A general outline; the regulator publishes no procedure

Identify which regime applies to youThe Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act [Chapter 9:24] applies, with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) at the RBZ. Virtual asset providers must register with the FIU under S.I. 99 of 2026.
Set up customer due diligenceVerify identity at account opening, for occasional transactions of US$5,000 or more, and for wire transfers of US$1,000 or more. Identify beneficial owners and refuse to open an account if due diligence is incomplete (ss.15-22).
Add enhanced checks and ongoing monitoringGet senior approval and establish source of wealth for politically exposed persons (s.20). Monitor transactions against each customer's profile (s.26).
Report suspicious transactions to the FIUReport promptly, within 3 working days of forming the suspicion (s.30). Never tip off the customer.
Keep records and appoint a compliance officerKeep customer and transaction records for 5 years (s.24). The VASP rules require a resident compliance officer, written AML policies and independent audit.

Check before you act. No FIU or RBZ page and no published registration or reporting procedure for general reporting entities (such as a payments fintech licensed by the RBZ). The statute details come from a secondary article about accountants, and it did not read s.25 on compliance officers. VASP fees (up to US$500 registration, US$400 renewal, 90-day decision) apply only to virtual asset providers. Payment-provider licensing under the RBZ was not researched.

Step sourceslearnsignal.com mmmlawfirm.co.zw businesstimes.co.zw zimra.co.zw

Check before relying on this. Sections 26 to 30, which include the suspicious transaction reporting duty, were not read, so reporting thresholds and wording are unconfirmed. Read through a summarising tool; check the section numbers.

Sources

Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act, consolidated (FIU)

Checked 2 Nov 2026

RBZ · Reserve Bank, paymentsRule to follow, not a licenceForeign currency rulesVerifyAppliesWhen you earn foreign currency, pay foreign vendors or send profits abroad.Exporters convert 30% of foreign earnings, and recurring payments to foreign vendors need an RBZ-registered agreement.

The Reserve Bank's Foreign Exchange Guidelines (FXD5 v2.0, March 2026) matter to startups that earn in dollars, pay foreign software or cloud vendors, or send dividends abroad.

Currency: Foreign currency is legal tender and may be used freely (1.1.1).
Exporters: Surrender 30% and keep 70% (3.2.3). New exporters of goods or services register on CEPECS (3.2.1). Service providers file Form GSD (3.2.15), and proceeds are due within 90 days (3.2.16).
Foreign service fees: Recurring fees need an RBZ-registered agreement valid for one year (3.1.5). Aggregate payments are capped at 3% of revenue (3.1.9). Once-off payments are allowed up to US$250,000 per company per year (3.1.10).
Dividends: Up to 100% of net after-tax profits, applied for within 12 months of year-end, with audit and board documents (3.1.13).
SaaS and cloud: Not named in the clauses read. They probably fall under the service-fee rules, but that is our inference.

Steps to comply

From news and law-firm reports; no official procedure found

Register for CEPECS with the RBZComplete the RBZ user registration, and the Exports Department issues a login. You can then raise Form CD1 online (2017 RBZ statement via NewsDay).
Surrender 30% of export proceedsYou may keep 70% in foreign currency. Sell the 30% to the RBZ at the interbank rate, on receipt and/or within 24 hours (RBZ notices).
Acquit exports within 90 days of shipmentDeclare the true export value on bank documents. The same 90-day rule applies to foreign payments.
Register external loans, service agreements and foreign investmentsRegister them with the RBZ and get prior exchange control approval before payment. Apply through your bank branch and relationship manager (RBZ notice).
Use an authorised dealer for any remittanceExchange control generally bars sending funds abroad except through an authorised bank. Penalties are the greater of 1% of the transaction or US$100,000.

Check before you act. Steps come from RBZ notices read through a bank's copy, not rbz.co.zw. Confirm with your bank's forex desk. No rbz.co.zw page was opened. The RBZ notices were read via a bank's copy. The March 2026 notice ties CEPECS to cross-border road freight (Form CD3), so check whether CEPECS registration is still how general exporters raise CD1. Nothing found on dividend remittance rules, foreign-vendor payments (CEPECS), or processing timelines.

Step sourcesnewsday.co.zw nmbz.co.zw nmbz.co.zw businesstimes.co.zw

Check before relying on this. Only the first part of a very long PDF was read, through a summarising tool. Check every clause number and figure against the guidelines, and the March 2026 directive FXD5/2026 itself, before relying on them.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

POTRAZ · Telecoms and data regulatorRule to follow, not a licenceDuties that come with a telecom licenceAppliesOnce you hold an ISP, MVNO or other telecom licence.Telecom licence holders must register every SIM customer with ID and keep systems ready for lawful interception.

These come with an ISP, MVNO or operator licence rather than being separate applications. Operators must register every SIM customer under the Subscriber Registration Regulations (S.I. 95 of 2014), and keep their network ready for lawful interception under the Interception of Communications Act [Chapter 11:20].

SIM registration: Collect name, addresses and national ID before contracting. Law enforcement needs a warrant or court order to access the data.
Systems (s9): Providers must keep systems able to support lawful interception. Failure: a fine up to level 12 or 3 years.
Directives (s12): Providers must offer interceptable services and store call-related information under a directive from the Authority, at their own cost.
Customer records (s10): Collect customer identity details and keep proper records.
Disclosure (s16): Disclosing intercepted information: level 14 or 5 years.

Steps to comply

From the regulator's page or the law itself

Register every subscriber before activating a SIMDo not activate a SIM or start service until details are registered (SI 142 of 2013, s3).
Keep hard and electronic Subscriber Register for 5 yearsRetain records for 5 years after the contract ends. Give POTRAZ extracts free on request and allow inspection.
Make services interception-capableUnder s12(1) of the Interception of Communications Act, a provider must offer a service that can be intercepted.
Follow the POTRAZ technical directiveThe Authority issues a directive on facilities, devices and compliance deadline (s12(2)-(3)). Providers acquire the specified equipment at their own expense.
Comply with warrants and keep them confidentialSupply call data in real time or soon after call end. Do not disclose information obtained under the Act (s16).

Check before you act. The steps follow S.I. 142 of 2013. One source says those regulations were repealed and replaced (S.I. 95 of 2014), so confirm with POTRAZ which text is in force before you build your sign-up flow around it. There is no published application or certification process, so this outlines legal duties only. I did not find the current technical directive or compliance deadline, or any named contact. Penalties: failing to assist is a fine up to level 12 or 3 years' prison; unlawful disclosure up to level 14 or 5 years.

Step sourceszimlii.org veritaszim.net veritaszim.net nehandaradio.com

Check before relying on this. Whether a pure app or SaaS firm counts as a telecommunication provider was not examined. Penalties and the text of S.I. 95 of 2014 were not read.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

Transport · Ministry and city councilsRule to follow, not a licenceRide-hailing: rules are comingAppliesIf you run ride-hailing. New rules are on the way.There is no e-hailing law yet. Government says new rules are on the way and platforms should register with ZIMRA.

Ride-hailing sits in a gap. Expect new registration, safety standards and fees, and watch for the interim statutory instrument.

19 Aug 2026: The Transport Minister told Parliament there is no provision for e-hailing in the Road Motor Transportation Act and that the Ministry is preparing a statutory instrument (Hansard).
Early Sept 2026: Cabinet was reported to have approved "Interim Transitional Measures" including a five-month moratorium on regulating e-hailing. The reports give no start or end date and no fee amounts.
Platforms: Expected to register with ZIMRA. Operators already tax-registered must regularise that registration. A self-regulatory safety framework is to be developed and the Transport Ministry is to draft regulations.
Drivers: The head of the Passengers Association of Zimbabwe says vehicles need a certificate of fitness, a route permit and passenger liability cover. This is his statement, not a new rule.
City councils: Harare says its by-laws do not cover e-hailing and is consulting on a framework (13 Aug 2026). Harare City Council arrests were reported the same day; one driver said he was fined US$172.

Steps to comply

From news and law-firm reports; no official procedure found

Register the business with ZIMRACabinet's 8 Sept 2026 decision requires e-hailing businesses to register with ZIMRA. Those already registered for tax must regularise their position.
Operate under the five-month transitionBolt, InDrive, Tap & Go and others get a five-month moratorium with a self-regulatory framework for operators and drivers. No dedicated e-hailing law exists yet.
Join the Transport Ministry consultationThe ministry must draft e-hailing regulations with industry, covering platform registration, driver conduct, passenger safety and tax. Expect new rules after the five months.
Check whether an operator licence is neededThe existing Road Motor Transportation framework was built for route-based transport. Reports do not say whether e-hailing needs the SI 6 of 2026 licence (US$125 for three years).

Check before you act. No official Cabinet or Ministry text was opened. Moratorium start date, driver-level requirements and licence status are unconfirmed. The Herald and Innovation Village pages failed to load.

Step sourcesequityaxis.net cite.org.zw

Check before relying on this. No instrument had been gazetted when we last looked (2 November 2026). It is unclear whether the moratorium pauses enforcement. A commentator quoted by Nehanda Radio says there is no e-hailing permit category, and that reading has not been tested in court.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

Media · Media regulationRule to follow, not a licenceMedia law changesAppliesIf you publish news or run a social platform.Bloggers and online publishers need no registration yet, but new media and social media laws are being drafted.

The Zimbabwe Media Commission Act has no registration or accreditation requirement for online publishers or bloggers, but mass media owners pay an annual levy. Reform is pending.

ZMC Act: Act 9 of 2020 treats media as including the internet. Every "mass media owner" pays a prescribed annual levy, doubled if paid more than 7 days late. "Mass media owner" is undefined and the amounts are in regulations not found.
Registration fees: S.I. 22 of 2021 set registration and accreditation fees under a repealed Act; Veritas calls it almost certainly invalid but advises compliance (reported).
Pending: The Media Practitioners Bill was at technical consolidation on 15 April 2026. The Information Minister said in March 2025 that a social media law is being prepared; no text or timeline was given.
Freedom of Information Act: Request duties apply to public entities and statutory office holders, so a private startup is unlikely to be a duty-bearer.

Steps to comply

From news and law-firm reports; no official procedure found

Check whether you run a mass media serviceThe ZMC Act 2020 defines media to include the internet but sets no registration process. Registration sits in the older AIPPA regulations.
Apply to ZMC for mass media registrationS.I. 79 of 2020 lists mass media at US$2,000 application and US$15,000 registration, community media at US$1,000 and US$5,000, and news agencies at US$1,000 and US$8,000.
Journalists apply for ZMC accreditationS.I. 79 of 2020 sets local journalists at US$120 new and US$80 renewal. Online content creator categories were disputed in court in 2020.
Pay the annual Media Fund levyEvery mass media owner must pay the prescribed levy (ZMC Act s24). Paying more than seven days late means double the levy.
Renew on timeThe fee schedule lists renewal and late-renewal fees, for example US$10,000 and US$5,000 for mass media. The renewal cycle is not confirmed.

Check before you act. The fee schedule found is from 2020 and later years were gazetted. Confirm the current figure with the commission. zmc.org.zw blocked my fetch, so no current forms, portal, address, documents or timeline. The fee schedule is from 2020 and later years were gazetted. The currency is unstated in the report. Whether startups or online creators must register is unclear. The AIPPA regulations were not read.

Step sourceszimlii.org heraldonline.co.zw misa.org misa.org

Check before relying on this. Whether bloggers or online news sites must register is not confirmed. Watch for the Bill.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

Health · MCAZ and health councilsRule to follow, not a licenceRules for health platformsVerifyAppliesIf clinicians on your platform treat patients.Clinicians on your platform must be registered with their council, and telemedicine must link to a registered practice.

Only condoms and gloves are currently regulated as medical devices, and no MCAZ rule on health software was found. The clinicians you onboard must still be registered with their councils.

Devices: MCAZ's own submission says only condoms and gloves are regulated as devices. Draft device and diagnostic regulations exist, with basic controls planned for 2026. No rule on health software or apps was found.
Telemedicine: The 2022 policy of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council binds doctors, not tech firms: telemedicine must link to registered premises, with explicit consent and secure records, and the doctor carries the risk.
Clinicians: The Health Professions Authority is an umbrella over eight councils. Each clinician registers with their own council (our inference, not confirmed).
Patient data: The Cyber and Data Protection Act applies, so see the POTRAZ licence rules above.
Online pharmacy: No Zimbabwean rule was found.

Steps to comply

From the regulator's page or the law itself

Register practitioners with the professional councilDoctors use MDPCZ (8 Harvey Brown, Milton Park, Harare; mdpcz@mdpcz.co.zw). Annual fees are due 31 Dec and 50 CPD points by 30 Sept.
Register health premises with HPAClinics, labs, consulting rooms and pharmacies must be registered. Get a local authority health report, apply via the professional council, then pay HPA. HPA inspects within two weeks.
Display the HPA certificate and renew yearlyCertificates last one calendar year and renew by 1 January. Operating before inspection and approval is an offence.
Follow the MDPCZ telemedicine policyReported: practitioners work from registered premises, protect privacy, document consultations, store records securely and avoid WhatsApp. The policy binds doctors, not platforms.
Check medical device status with MCAZMCAZ's IMDRF paper says only condoms and gloves are regulated now. Draft regulations cover IVDs and device import, export and manufacture. Basic controls are planned for 2026.

Check before you act. No official telemedicine policy text or platform licence route found. Fee amounts (SI 78 of 2017), the HPA registration manual and the current MCAZ device regime were not opened. Whether the draft device rules are in force is unconfirmed.

Step sourceshpa.co.zw mdpcz.co.zw techzim.co.zw imdrf.org live.hpa.co.zw

Check before relying on this. Pharmacy, telemedicine and device points come from a regulator submission and an opinion piece. The Public Health Act and Medical Services Act duties on patient data were not found.

Sources

Checked 2 Nov 2026

Not covered yet

Who needs POTRAZ's Application Services licence (category 1.4). Its fee table lists the licence but POTRAZ has not said whether apps, SaaS or bulk SMS services need it.
Payment aggregator or gateway minimum capital, and whether the RBZ fintech sandbox is open.
Suspicious transaction reporting duties and thresholds (Money Laundering Act sections 26 to 30).
Digital lending, buy-now-pay-later and interest-rate cap rules, and the Money Lending and Rates of Interest Act.
Text of S.I. 95 of 2014 on subscriber registration, and whether airtime agents are bound.
The final POTRAZ converged licensing framework: what Application Services covers for apps, SaaS and content.
The final text of POTRAZ Regulatory Notice 2 of 2026 and CDPG 1 of 2025, and inspection dates.
Whether delivery apps need a POTRAZ courier licence, and the current type-approval device list and fees.
The e-hailing statutory instrument, the moratorium dates and any fees, once published.
BAZ fees and penalties for online broadcasting, and any registration rule for online news sites.
Current Companies Registry name, fees and online steps, and current ZIPO or CIPZ fees.
ZTA fees and the Tourism Act 2026 commencement date; Estate Agents Council position on listings portals.
MCAZ rules for health software, ZERA net-metering and mini-grid rules, and ZINARA and council delivery permits.
Startup Bill status, small-business presumptive tax rates, and whether VAT is 15.5%.

Items marked Verify are unclear, dated or only partly confirmed. Checked 2 Nov 2026. A research directory, not legal advice: confirm with the regulator or a Zimbabwean lawyer before you act.