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The Three Categories of Reserved Sectors in Zimbabwe

The Minister of Industry and Commerce in Zimbabwe in terms of section 21 of the Indigenisation and Empowerment Act [Chapter 14:33] promulgated the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment (Foreign Participation in Reserved Sectors) Regulations, 2025 set out three categories of reserved sectors in Zimbabwe. 

Exclusive Reserved Sectors in Zimbabwe 

• Advertising agencies 

• Artisanal Mining 

• Bakeries 

• Barbershops, hair dressing and beauty salons

• Borehole drilling 

• Clearing and customs (except for international brands)

• Employment agencies 

• Estate agencies (except for international brands)

• Pharmaceutical retailing 

• Provision of local arts and craft: marketing and distribution 

• Tobacco grading and packaging 

• Transportation: passenger buses, taxis and care hire services (except for international brands)

• Valet services

Reserved Sectors with Thresholds in Zimbabwe 

• Grain milling 

Foreign participation in graining milling is permittable in Zimbabwe where the minimum number of full-paid employees is fifty (50) and the minimum investment is USD$25,000,000.00

• Haulage and logistics industry 

Foreign participation in graining milling is permittable in Zimbabwe where the minimum number of full-paid employees is one hundred (10) and the minimum investment is USD$10,000,000.00

• Retail and wholesale trade

Foreign participation in graining milling is permittable in Zimbabwe where the minimum number of full-paid employees is two hundred (200) and the minimum investment is USD$20,000,000.00

• Shipping and forwarding 

Foreign participation in graining milling is permittable in Zimbabwe where the minimum number of full-paid employees is twenty (20) and the minimum investment is USD$1,000,000.00

Additional Reserved Sectors in Zimbabwe 

Section 67 of the Finance Act, 2025 created the below additional reserved sectors in Zimbabwe:

• Brick moulding 

• Granite mining 

• Quarry mining 

• Travel agency business