CABINET has agreed to review licences, permits, levies and fees in the construction sector.
Speaking after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting in Harare, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Zhemu Soda said this was in line with a Cabinet decision of July 29 last year, which approved the implementation of a raft of business reforms in 12 sectors of the economy.
“The review process is aimed at reducing the cost of doing business, increasing competitiveness, enhancing investor confidence and stimulating the growth and expansion of the domestic construction sector,” he said.
Importantly, the process will make it simpler and cheaper to regularise informal settlements.
Cabinet approved the streamlining of duplicated and overlapping regulatory licences and permits, the removal of unnecessary levies and fees, and the lowering of unjustifiably high levies and fees for the real estate sub-sector.
This has seen the capping of fees for the approval of building plans by local authorities for high‑density suburbs and for industrial plans; scrapping of the building permit inspection fee by local authorities for high‑density suburbs; reduction of approval fees by local authorities for structural engineering design; abolishment of environmental impact assessment fees; and a reduction in contractor registration fees by local authorities.
Dr Soda said Government will subject the reviews to further consultations based on three categories: review of Government levies and fees; review of private‑sector levies and fees; and other relevant fees.
“The relevant Statutory Instruments and detailed fee schedules will thereafter be gazetted.
“Regarding the ‘Other’ category, Government will review cross‑cutting issues such as constrained credit facilities that have a significant impact beyond the real estate sub‑sector and relate to the accelerated regularisation of informal settlements through a structured programme to ensure the provision of essential social and physical infrastructure under the approved user‑pay principle,” he said.
Meanwhile, Cabinet has considered and approved the Memorandum of Understanding between Zimbabwe and Ghana on cooperation in the energy sector, which was presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi, as Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation.
“The envisaged cooperation will foster stronger economic ties and enhance the existing friendly relations between the two countries.
“Mutually benefiting both parties, the memorandum of understanding outlines parameters for collaboration in key areas, including renewable energy, oil, gas, electricity and petroleum.
“The MoU offers strategic benefits for Zimbabwe, such as enhancing security of energy supply, electricity trading, infrastructure development, promotion of renewable energy, and capacity‑building in transition to clean energy in order to accelerate its deployment,” said Dr Soda.
