Ministries push for fee reduction

By The Standard | Nov. 22, 2017 | 2 Min read

SEVERAL ministries have given recommendations for the reduction of fees and removal of bottlenecks in a bid to attract investment in the country.

BY FIDELITY MHLANGA

Presenting at the sensitisation workshop organised by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion, legal officer in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Mirirai Svotwa, said there were proposals to reduce vehicle registration fees by at least 50% as a way of promoting investment in the country.

Currently, motor vehicle registration costs $160.

Svotwa said they had also decentralised the operation licences to Gweru, Chinhoyi among other provincial cities as part of ease of doing business reforms.

Senior development officer in the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Vongai Murombo said there was need to put in place legislation that supports private sector participation in the energy sector to boast investor confidence. She added that fees charged by the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) and Environmental Management Agency (EMA) were too exorbitant.

EMA charges 0,8% and NSSA requires 1% for every power project cost.

“We are recommending that they should charge fixed costs not a percentage of project cost. There is need to review fees downwards with a view to boost investor confidence,” she said.

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She said that the Bio-fuels Policy was complete, but still to be approved by Cabinet, adding that the ministry was currently working on the Renewable Energy Policy which was 95% complete.

Another legal officer in the Ministry of Public Service, Kudzaishe Havazvidi, said there was need for efficient dispute resolution which is essential in attracting investment in the country.

“It is proposed to adopt an efficient dispute resolution mechanism like that in South Africa whereby there are less arduous processes, “he said.

He added that the Special economic Zones Act does not dispense with the Labour Act unlike its predecessor the Export proccessing zones Act. Flexible labour laws are therefore required to achieve efficiency in Special economic Zones in order to attract investors.

Macro-Economic Planning and Investment Promotion ministry legal officer Meluleki Sibanda had raised concern about the Immigration Act saying it was an albatross to investment in the country.