City Of Harare | City reduces business licence fees

Presenting the 2026 Budget today, Finance Committee Chairperson Cllr Costa Mande says in line with the Government of Zimbabwe’s directive for municipalities to rationalise and reduce business licence fees, the City of Harare has recalibrated its 2026 tariff framework to support investment growth, enterprise formalisation, and economic recovery. The budget came up with a reduction in shop licence fees by about 50%, with shops below 50m2 currently being charged 400usd proposed to pay a simplified flat rate annual licence fees of 200usd whilst hawkers (non-food) shops will now pay 58usd, a reduction from 115usd, hairdressers Class A (shop) will now pay 230usd a fifty percent reduction all in an effort to support women and youth operators. This proposed budget tariff structure seeks to make Harare a competitive, inclusive, and business-friendly city, while maintaining adequate fiscal capacity to sustain service delivery. The City has adopted a tiered reduction model, balancing compliance with the national directive and its own fiscal sustainability. This model recognises Harare’s strategic role as the national capital and commercial hub, where affordable licensing is essential to attract investment, create jobs, and formalise the small to medium enterprises or all.