President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is currently in an election dispute with the main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, signed the Shop Licenses Amendment Bill, 2018, into law according to a Zimbabwean local newspaper.
A notice of the enactment of the law from the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda appeared in Friday’s Government Gazette.
“The following law, which was assented to by His Excellency the President, is published in terms of section 131 (6) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe — Shop Licenses Amendment Act, 2018 (No. 8 of 2018),” the Daily News quotes the gazette.
The new law is an amendment of the Shop Licences Act Chapter 14:17 of 1976, which was last reviewed in 1980 according to the Parliament of Zimbabwe Website.
The newly signed Shop Licenses Amendment Bill, 2018 is in line with the government’s efforts to improve the “Ease of Doing Business” in Zimbabwe.
Former President Robert Mugabe’s government launched the Ease of Doing Business Program to address challenges in opening and operating businesses in the country.
Issuing of shop licences will be quickened thereby encouraging domestic and foreign investment as well as revenue collections under the new law.
It has been taking about 90 days for a firm to be registered in Zimbabwe, with municipal regulations consuming about 55 days, which is about 60 % of the days according to the Parliament of Zimbabwe website.
President Mnangagwa signs the Shop Licenses Amendment Bill, 2018 into law amid election disputes with Chamisa who claims that the July 30 elections have been rigged.
The current President is yet to sign the Companies and Other Entities Bill and the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Bill into law.
