Zimbabwe reserves 17 economic sectors for citizens

Government has reserved 17 sectors of the economy for Zimbabwean citizens, with 13 designated as exclusive, as authorities intensify enforcement of economic empowerment regulations targeting foreign-owned businesses.

The reserved sectors include borehole drilling, clearing and customs, tobacco grading, estate agency and artisanal mining.

In a Post-Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, Acting Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Paul Mavhima said Cabinet had received an update on the implementation of legislation governing reserved sectors under the country's economic empowerment framework.

The update was presented by Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu.

Mavhima said Government gazetted Statutory Instrument 215 of 2025 in December last year, reserving 17 economic sectors for Zimbabwean citizens. Foreign participation may be permitted in certain sectors, including retail and wholesale, haulage and logistics, grain milling, and shipping and forwarding, subject to exemptions.

He said compliance inspections covering more than 3 000 companies had been completed across the country's 10 provinces.

Government had received 693 formal applications for compliance in the reserved sectors, while 269 foreign operators had applied for regularisation under arrangements requiring the transfer of 75 percent equity to Zimbabwean citizens.

A further 144 entities had applied for confirmation of their local status through exemptions or the verification process.

Of these, 63 entities, representing 13.2 percent of foreign companies, qualified for statutory exemptions after meeting prescribed investment thresholds or being recognised as international brands.

However, Mavhima said Cabinet noted that most foreign-owned businesses had not yet regularised their operations despite nationwide awareness campaigns and the issuance of non-compliance notices.

He said foreign operators continued to maintain a significant presence in reserved sectors, including retail and brick moulding, prompting Government to warn of tougher penalties.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce will suspend or revoke the operating licences of businesses that fail to comply with regulations governing the reserved sectors, Mavhima said.