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Doing business
Doing business in Zimbabwe
The official bodies a foreign company, investor or professional deals with in Zimbabwe – linked to their own websites – plus the treaties that matter for contracts and disputes, and law firms there that list business work.
Key facts
Key facts for business in Zimbabwe
The short answer
We could not confirm the company registry’s website for Zimbabwe. Tax authority: Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA). Requirements, fees and timelines change – confirm them with the body concerned and a lawyer admitted in Zimbabwe before you act.
| Legal system | Mixed (Roman-Dutch law and English common law, with customary law) |
|---|---|
| Official languages | English, Shona, Ndebele, Chewa, Chibarwe, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Shangani, Sign language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa |
| Currency | Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG, ZWG) |
| Regional blocs | SADC, COMESA |
| OHADA business law | No |
| AfCFTA (continental free trade) | Ratified (instrument deposited) |
| New York Convention (arbitral awards) | Party – in force since 1994 |
| ICSID Convention (investment disputes) | Contracting state – in force since 1994 |
| Apostille Convention (public documents) | Not a party – documents usually need legalization |
Treaty status from the official depositary records (UNCITRAL, ICSID, HCCH), regional blocs from their own websites, AfCFTA from tralac – checked October 2026. Not legal advice.
Official bodies
Who does what in Zimbabwe
| What for | Official body | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Investment promotion | Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) | zidainvest.com |
| Tax | Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) | zimra.co.zw |
| Central bank, currency and foreign exchange | Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) | rbz.co.zw |
| Work and residence permits | Department of Immigration Zimbabwe | zimimmigration.gov.zw |
| Courts and justice | Judicial Service Commission (JSC) of Zimbabwe | jsc.org.zw |
| Official business procedures portal | Zimbabwe eRegulations | eregulations.zidainvest.com |
We could not confirm an official website for: registering a company. We only link to sites we could open and confirm as the body’s own in October 2026.
Each link was opened and checked as the body’s own website in October 2026. Links to official sites only – never to agents or look-alike sites.
Getting started
What foreign businesses usually sort out first
- Choose how you will operate. A subsidiary, a branch, a representative office, or working through a local partner or distributor. The options and their conditions are set by national company law.
- Register the business. Company registration: the national company registry.
- Register for tax. Tax registration: Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA).
- Check investment rules and incentives. Some sectors have licensing, local-ownership or registration rules, and some investors qualify for incentives. Investment agency: Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA).
- Permits for foreign staff. Work and residence permits: Department of Immigration Zimbabwe.
- Banking and foreign exchange. Rules on accounts, moving money in and out and paying dividends abroad come from the central bank (Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ)) and the banks.
- Contracts and disputes. Agree the governing law, the courts or arbitration seat, and the language. Zimbabwe is a party to the New York Convention, so arbitral awards made in other member states can be recognized there under it.
A general checklist, not legal advice. What applies to you depends on your sector, structure and nationality.
Law firms
Law firms in Zimbabwe for business matters
Coghlan & Welsh
Bulawayo
Dube-Banda Nzarayapenga and Partners
Harare, Bulawayo, Masvingo
Gill, Godlonton & Gerrans
Harare
Kantor Immerman Legal Practitioners
Harare
MATLAW
Harare
MCM Legal
Harare
Scanlen & Holderness
Harare
Webb, Low and Barry
Bulawayo
Wintertons Legal Practitioners
Harare
9 firms in Zimbabwe list corporate, tax, employment or other business work on their own websites. See every firm in Zimbabwe.
Checking a lawyer in Zimbabwe
Who admits lawyers: Law Society of Zimbabwe (registration and practising certificates under the Legal Practitioners Act); admission by the High Court
Professional title: Legal Practitioner
Official roll: lawsociety.org.zw
Check the Law Society of Zimbabwe's free online directory of registered legal practitioners (lawsociety.org.zw/directory).
Sources: lawsociety.org.zw, lawsociety.org.zw. Checked October 2026. Not legal advice.
Questions
Doing business in Zimbabwe: questions
Is Zimbabwe a party to the New York Convention?
Yes – in force since 1994 (UNCITRAL status table, checked October 2026).
Does Zimbabwe accept apostilles?
Zimbabwe is not a party to the Apostille Convention (HCCH status table, checked October 2026), so foreign public documents usually need legalization – typically through the issuing country’s foreign ministry and Zimbabwe’s embassy or consulate. Confirm with the authority that will receive the document.
What currency is used in Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG, ZWG).