Story by Tichaona Kurewa
VICTORIA FALLS – THE 9th Annual Tax Conference is underway in Victoria Falls, with Zimbabwe being described as a knowledge hub for tax reforms.
Under the National Development Strategy One (NDS1), the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) rolled out the Tax and Revenue Management System (TaRMS) in 2023.
To date, TaRMS has improved the ease of doing business, widened the tax base and accelerated the country’s shift toward a digital economy.
The success of the system has attracted regional attention, with various countries now benchmarking their own tax reforms against Zimbabwe’s model.
“The Zimbabwean State is proud of the rollout of TaRMS, and with your support, we’ve seen delegations from other countries coming to benchmark our system. Uganda, Eswatini, Botswana and even Malta are coming. I was recently in Rwanda comparing systems, and we’re now a notch above Rwanda. That’s commendable on our side ,” said ZIMRA commissioner domestic taxes, Mr Misheck Govha.
The private sector also acknowledged the positive impact of the reforms on the business environment.
“There are many ways to increase tax revenue, either by raising tax rates or ensuring compliance. TaRMS has focused on compliance, bringing new taxpayers into the system. This contributes to national revenue. It’s definitely the way to go,” highlighted WTS Tax Matrix Academy CEO, Mr Marvelous Tapera.
The three-day conference is tackling capacity building and developing policy frameworks to support both business and government, covering areas such as tax compliance, unveiling new tax policies, and improving administrative systems.
TaRMS also facilitates data sharing across government agencies including the Civil Registry, Company Registrar, and Deeds Office, further supporting government’s broader digitisation agenda in line with the country’s Vision to become an upper middle income society by 2030.
