Investment Licensing

The Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency (ZIDA) is the country's investment promotion bureau set up to facilitate both local and foreign direct investment. The statutory body was established in line with the ZIDA Act which replaces the Zimbabwe Investment Authority Act (ZIA) of 2006 (No. 4 of 2006). However, in continuation of the outgoing authority's mandate, it is still mandatory for all projects with a foreign ownership component to register with ZIDA prior to setting up their businesses in Zimbabwe.

Nonetheless, through our expertise and synergies that we developed while working with the Zimbabwean Investment Authority, we are well positioned to assist you overcome this bureaucratic requirement, handling the registration process from start to finish within the shortest turnaround time possible. Contact us today and we will start processing your business' investment license which is also required in a host of other subsequent processes, including:

• Immigration

As an investor, you will not be issued with a residence and/or investor permit without an investment license while any expatriate workers coming to work for your company (or any with part foreign ownership) are registered under said company’s Investment License. Without either of these permits, no foreigner is permitted to do any work (both paid and unpaid) in Zimbabwe.

• Bank Accounts

A valid investment license is part of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements for companies with a foreign component to open bank accounts in Zimbabwe. This is further amplified by the need for all directors and shareholders in the company to have valid investor and/or work permits – which as already has been established above, cannot be processed without the investment license.

• Tax Registration

Without the investment license, work permits, and the bank accounts, companies with foreign ownership cannot be registered into the ZIMRA system. Without a valid, activated Business Partner Number and Tax Clearance Certificate, no company can import nor export goods into and out of the country, let alone trade.

• Licensing

Without an Investment license, foreign owned companies cannot get licensing from the different government departments and ministries. This includes mining licenses, city and health licenses, environmental impact assessment license, and others.

• Proof of Finance (either through bank statements, confirmation letter from a bank, confirmed bank loans, other confirmed credit facilities, and/or proof and value of equipment/machinery to be transferred into the local business). This should be translated into English in your home country and attested at the Zimbabwean consulate therein or by a recognised notary if there is no embassy.
• Brief resumes/CVs for shareholders and directors as well as copies of identification documents (passports for foreigners and national ID for Zimbabwe partners if any)
• Copies of academic qualifications for shareholders and directors translated into English in your home country and attested at the Zimbabwean consulate therein or by a recognised notary if there is no embassy.
• Police clearance for shareholders and directors translated into English in your home country and attested at the Zimbabwean consulate therein or by a recognised notary if there is no embassy.
• Company Profile and corporate registration documents for Corporate Shareholders (certificate of incorporation and register of directors of your business in your home country);
• Financial Projections for the first three years of trading

With the above, we will prepare and submit the application pack on your behalf and have your investment license out within the shortest possible timescales. Please contact us now for additional information and/or assistance in this respect.