Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo River, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia to the north, and Mozambique to the east. The capital and largest city is Harare, and the second largest is Bulawayo. Expanding from a population of 2,746,396 in 1950, Zimbabwe’s population has rapidly increased. Based on the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects, the population of Zimbabwe was estimated by the United Nations at 15,993,524 in 2021.
A country of roughly 16.9 million people as per 2024 estimates, Zimbabwe’s largest ethnic group are the Shona, who make up 80% of the population, followed by the Northern Ndebele and other smaller minorities. Zimbabwe has 16 official languages, with English, Shona, and Ndebele the most common. Zimbabwe is a member of the United Nations, the Southern African Development Community, the African Union, and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.
The main foreign exports of Zimbabwe are minerals, gold, and agriculture. Zimbabwe is crossed by two trans-African automobile routes: the Cairo-Cape Town Highway and the Beira-Lobito Highway. Zimbabwe is the largest trading partner of South Africa on the continent. Taxes and tariffs are high for private enterprises, while state enterprises are strongly subsidised. State regulation is costly to companies; starting or closing a business is slow and expensive. Tourism also plays a key role in the economy.
Skilled Workforce:
A relatively young and educated population provides a good labor pool, with high literacy rates.
Strategic Location & Market Access:
Positioned in Southern Africa, Zimbabwe offers access to large regional markets through SADC, COMESA, and AfCFTA, with vast combined populations and GDP.
Investor Reforms:
Government initiatives through ZIDA aim to streamline processes, offer incentives (like tax holidays for certain sectors), and improve the ease of doing business.
Direct Taxes
Indirect Taxes
Withholding Taxes (WHT)
WHT is a final tax on certain payments made to residents or non-residents:
Private Limited Company (Pvt Ltd):
Most common, offers limited liability, restricts share transfers, limits shareholders (max 50), and requires formal documentation like Articles of Association.
Private Business Corporation (PBC):
Simpler for SMEs, has a separate legal persona, perpetual succession, and uses member contributions instead of share capital, with no annual returns required.
Co-operative Company (Co-op):
Member-owned businesses focused on collective benefit, with continuous succession.
Public Limited Company (PLC):
Shares can be offered to the public and listed on the stock exchange, requiring more complex structures and reporting.
Foreign Company:
A company incorporated outside Zimbabwe that establishes a place of business within the country.
Company Limited by Guarantee:
Often used for non-profits, where members guarantee a certain amount if the company winds up.
Partnerships, Syndicates, & Joint Ventures:
Can be voluntarily registered under the COBE Act for collaborative projects.
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Chandrawat & Partners stands as a dynamic and rapidly expanding full-service firm, specializing in the delivery of exceptional professional and corporate services to a diverse clientele, both foreign and local. We proudly represent companies and individuals across a wide spectrum of sectors through distinct entities established in various countries worldwide.
Chandrawat & Partners stands as a dynamic and rapidly expanding full-service firm, specializing in the delivery of exceptional professional and corporate services to a diverse clientele, both foreign and local. We proudly represent companies and individuals across a wide spectrum of sectors through distinct entities established in various countries worldwide.
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