Zimpapers Logo

The transformation of Zia would reduce the time for approval of investment projects from 49 days to three days.
Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Minister Tapiwa Mashakada said they were optimistic that the Ministry of Finance would avail the required funding for the transformation of Zia.
He said his ministry had set next month as the deadline for the transformation of Zia pointing out that if the Ministry of Finance approved the proposed budget on time they would be able to meet the deadline.
“We are in the process of mobilising funding for the transformation of Zia into a one stop shop investment centre. We hope that the Ministry of Finance will avail the resource so that in October the one stop shop investment centre would be functional,” said Minister Mashakada in an interview.
However, Business Chronicle understands that the proposed budget falls far too short of what was proposed by Zia.
The national investment agency would have to start from scratch as the it is facing a shortage of vehicles while the few cars they were using were outdated making it impossible for Zia to cope with introduction of the one stop shop centre.
The transformation of Zia would shorten procedures and guidelines for issuance of business approvals, permits, authorisations and remove bottlenecks faced by investors in establishing and running businesses.
The transformation would also address administrative bottlenecks, reduce time and high cost of doing business, eliminate dealing with multiple agencies, eliminate use of discretion, lack of transparency in granting approvals for licences and permits.