ZIMRA turns the heat on tax defaulters

PHILLIMON MHLANGA IN BULAWAYO

Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA),the country’s tax collector, has escalated pressure on tax defaulters, warning of intensified enforcement as the authority moves to close compliance gaps and shore up national revenues.

Speaking at the ongoing Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo, ZIMRA’s Acting Commissioner General Misheck Govha Govha said urgent alignment with tax laws across all sectors is now critical to safeguarding national development and sustaining economic growth.

“What is now required is for the business community and indeed the entire population of this great nation to cultivate, nurture, and sustain a culture of complying with tax laws. This is essential to facilitate national development,” he said.

In a direct appeal to defaulters, Govha urged immediate compliance, warning that the long-term cost of evasion far outweighs any short-term gains.

“If you have not been tax compliant, I urge you to do so. Compliance is actually beneficial for your business in the long run,” he said.

He stressed the need to rebuild tax morale across the economy, positioning compliance not just as a legal obligation but as a cornerstone for intergenerational economic stability.

“It is also high time we reignited tax morale across all sectors of the economy so that we benefit current and future generations of Zimbabwe,” Govha added.

The ZIMRA chief made it clear that the authority is tightening enforcement, adopting a zero-tolerance stance against corruption, smuggling, tax evasion, and any practices that undermine revenue collection.

“Vices such as corruption, smuggling, tax evasion, and an indifferent attitude towards work must be dealt with through a zero-tolerance approach,” he said.

Govha also challenged the private sector to actively engage with ZIMRA, leveraging existing platforms to strengthen compliance frameworks while unlocking business growth opportunities.

“I strongly believe this platform offers a wonderful opportunity for businesses to forge meaningful synergies with the Authority and to give us feedback on the areas we need to improve,” he said.