VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE, 14 October 2026 – The African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) has convened the 2026 Continental Exchange of Information (EOI) Conference and Workshop, hosted by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), from 14 to 16 October 2026 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The three-day gathering brings together African tax administration leaders and practitioners to strengthen international tax cooperation, combat illicit financial flows and improve domestic revenue mobilisation.

The conference comes at a time when African countries are increasingly recognising the value of accessing taxpayer information held beyond their borders. Since 2009, African tax administrations have identified more than EUR 4.6 billion in additional revenue through EOI, cross-border audits and investigations supported by EOI, and voluntary disclosure programmes, including EUR 417 million in 2025 alone.

Despite these gains, the benefits remain concentrated in relatively few countries. Many African tax administrations continue to face challenges related to limited legal frameworks, technical capacity and the effective use of exchanged information, highlighting the need for stronger cooperation and practical solutions.

According to Mr Antony Munanda, ATAF Head of International and Cross-Border Taxation, the conference provides an opportunity to help more African countries translate international tax cooperation into tangible results.

“Exchange of Information is an essential instrument for protecting Africa's tax base and strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation. We have seen the results it can deliver, but too many of our members are yet to fully benefit. Through this conference, we want to bridge that gap by strengthening political commitment, building practical capabilities and ensuring that African tax administrations have the tools and expertise to effectively use information held beyond their borders,” said Mr Munanda.

Welcoming the continental gathering, acting ZIMRA Commissioner General, Mr Misheck Govha,  highlighted the importance of Zimbabwe hosting discussions aimed at strengthening regional cooperation.

“Zimbabwe is pleased to host this important continental engagement, which brings African tax administrations together to share experiences and identify practical solutions to common challenges. As economic activities increasingly transcend national borders, no tax administration can address these challenges in isolation. Stronger cooperation and effective exchange of information are essential to protecting public revenue and supporting our countries' development priorities,” said Mr Govha.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister of Finance for Zimbabwe, Hon. David Mnangagwa, reiterated the importance of the Exchange of Information Conference that has been organised by the African Tax Administration Forum in bringing jurisdictions together to strengthen tax administrators’ capacity to mobilise domestic resources through effective international tax cooperation

“African economies operate within an interconnected financial system. Income, assets and business transactions cross borders, while governments remain responsible for financing development at home. International tax cooperation must therefore form part of our national financing strategies. Exchange of information helps establish the facts needed to address concealed taxable income and assets, investigate tax-related illicit financial flows and enforce domestic tax laws,” said Hon. Mnangagwa.

The conference opens with high-level discussions on Africa's tax transparency agenda, political leadership and the implementation of Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI). The following two days will focus on practical applications, including effective EOI requests, the use of exchanged information in tax audits, simultaneous tax examinations, beneficial ownership information and international peer review processes.

Beyond the conference, ATAF is advancing several initiatives to strengthen international tax cooperation across Africa. These include the ATAF Agreement on Mutual Assistance in Tax Matters (AMATM), which provides a framework for cooperation among African tax administrations, alongside targeted technical assistance, capacity-building programmes and practical tools to strengthen the implementation and effective use of EOI.

Participants will also explore an African-led AEOI IT solution developed jointly by ATAF and the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), with support from the World Bank, demonstrating how African-developed technological solutions can strengthen international tax cooperation.

Building on the inaugural conference held in 2024, the gathering forms part of ATAF's continued efforts to strengthen African ownership of the EOI agenda and help more member countries translate international cooperation into increased domestic revenue.

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) recently engaged with taxpayers in the agricultural town of Karoi, fostering a greater understanding of tax responsibilities. The initiative focused on taxpayer education, drawing interest not only from local businesses but also from visiting groups, including school children from Magunje and Karoi.

The engagement highlighted ZIMRA's efforts to promote compliance and educate the community on the importance of taxes in supporting national development. By involving schools, ZIMRA has ensured that even younger community members appreciate the role of taxation in building infrastructure and supporting essential services.

Such programs strengthen the relationship between ZIMRA and taxpayers, instilling a sense of responsibility and awareness for sustainable economic development.

Crypto-tax research wins continental award as Zimbabwe fields four papers at Africa's largest tax research meeting

KIGALI, Rwanda — A study of how Zimbabwe should tax cryptocurrencies has won the Best Innovative Research Paper Award at the 11th Annual Congress of the African Tax Research Network (ATRN). The congress was hosted by the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) in Kigali from 22 to 24 September 2026.

The winning paper was written by Dr Gift Mupunga, Head of Research and Innovation at the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA). It was one of four papers presented by a ZIMRA team. The team also covered tax expenditures, corruption and tax morale, and automatic exchange of tax information across borders.

The award puts Zimbabwe among the continent's leading contributors to tax research. That research increasingly shapes how African governments raise revenue at home.

A congress that keeps growing

The congress met at the Kigali Convention Centre under the theme Contemporary Taxation Issues in Africa. It was co-hosted by the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA). Researchers, policymakers, tax administrators and development partners came from across Africa and beyond to look for evidence-based ways to strengthen tax policy and domestic revenue mobilisation.

This year the ATRN received 190 research paper submissions, up from 120 in 2024. That is an increase of nearly 60 per cent, and it shows growing interest in research on Africa's most pressing tax problems.

ATAF said 164 of the submissions went through double-blind peer review. A Scientific Committee of 114 members completed 356 individual reviews. From these, 48 papers were accepted for full presentation and seven for poster presentation. Another 40 were placed on a mentoring track to help their authors develop their work.

Opening: “No finance ministry can close a tax gap it has not measured”

Rwanda's Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa, opened the congress. He argued that Africa needs stronger research infrastructure to design tax policy and judge whether reforms work. “Good tax policy, like good statistics, depends on evidence gathered honestly, tested rigorously,” he said. “No finance ministry can close a tax gap it has not measured.”

The Commissioner General of the Rwanda Revenue Authority, Ronald Niwenshuti, said revenue growth should come from better compliance, not more taxes. “Improved revenue collection is not a question of how many new levies we can introduce,” he said. He reported that the RRA reached 104.2 per cent of its target in the financial year to June 2026, with collections up 27.7 per cent. He credited data-driven enforcement, electronic billing and building taxpayer trust.

Niwenshuti also announced a Tax Tech Incubator Programme, so African administrations can share technology solutions. “An administration that holds its innovations serves only itself; one that shares them serves the continent,” he said. He warned that an administration that “treats research as decoration” will “eventually find itself poorly governed”.

Emeka Nwankwo, ATAF's Head of Domestic Tax and Capacity Building, spoke on behalf of ATAF Executive Secretary Mary Baine. He set out what is at stake. “On a continental output of roughly three trillion dollars, each additional percentage point of GDP raised in tax is worth in the order of thirty billion dollars a year,” he said.

Nwankwo said the ATRN's mentoring track means “we are not only selecting excellence; we are developing it”. He added that “the road from 15 per cent of GDP to the levels our peers on other continents already reach will not be built on borrowed models”.

Zimbabwe's four papers

Taxing crypto-assets (award winner). Dr Mupunga's paper looks at how Zimbabwe can bring a fast-growing but largely informal crypto market into the tax net. He estimates that about 12 per cent of Zimbabwean adults used crypto-assets by 2024, up from under 2 per cent in 2019. Much of this trading happens peer-to-peer, offshore or in cash, out of sight of the tax system.

The paper finds that Statutory Instrument 99 of 2026 was a turning point. It brought crypto service providers under Financial Intelligence Unit registration, identity checks and the international “travel rule”. But Mupunga argues that SI 99 is an anti-money-laundering tool, not a tax code. Zimbabwe still needs law that defines crypto as property, sets out when gains are taxable and how they are valued, and requires providers to report to ZIMRA.

Comparing India, Japan, the United States, Germany, South Africa and Brazil, he recommends a balanced, asset-based approach over punitive rates. He proposes a simplified regime for small businesses and early preparation for the OECD Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework, which several African countries will start using in 2027 and 2028.

Tax expenditures. Benjamin Chaya, a ZIMRA Research Analyst, analysed Zimbabwe's tax incentives and exemptions. Between 2015 and 2022 they averaged about US$2.16 billion a year, equal to 51.9 per cent of tax revenue and 6.02 per cent of GDP. Both figures are well above global averages. Using a Python-based microsimulation model on 2024 company tax returns, he estimates corporate tax expenditures at about US$555 million, or 1.21 per cent of GDP. He called for an annual tax expenditure report, sunset clauses on incentives and a whole-of-government monitoring framework.

Corruption and tax morale. Judith Tambama used Afrobarometer survey data on 1,457 Zimbabwean adults. She found that people who had paid a bribe for a public service were 7.2 percentage points less likely to say that not paying tax is wrong and punishable. People who found tax information easy to get were 15.2 points more likely to hold that view. Her conclusion: “the fiscal relationship is experienced before it is enforced”. Integrity and clear information build willing compliance.

Bridging the technical divide. Jeremiah Makumba addressed a practical barrier to international tax transparency. Many African tax authorities have signed agreements to exchange financial account data automatically, but their older IT systems cannot produce the data in the formats the OECD requires. He proposed an “African Interoperability Adapter”. This is low-cost middleware that extracts, translates, validates and securely sends data without replacing core systems. He urged ATAF to develop an open-source reference version for the continent.

From research to reform

The papers point in the same direction as the opening speeches. Africa can raise more revenue by closing gaps, managing incentives better, earning taxpayer trust and using data well, rather than by adding new taxes.

For Zimbabwe the congress offered both recognition and a practical agenda: legislating for crypto-assets, reporting openly on tax expenditures, making integrity visible at every point of contact with taxpayers, and building the systems needed for international information exchange.

As Minister Murangwa told delegates, a gap cannot be closed until it is measured. Zimbabwe's researchers went to Kigali with measurements and came home with the continent's top prize for innovation.

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has launched the Plumtree Small Trader Pilot Project (STPP), an initiative aimed at making formalisation and compliance easier and more accessible for small scale traders operating in the border community.

The three-day launch, held from 22 to 24 September 2026, brought together ZIMRA officials, small traders, Government stakeholders and representatives from IMF AFRITAC South.

Among the key guests were Headman Mabhunu, IMF Afritac South representatives Mrs. Janice Barnett and Mr. Stephen Mendes, Mrs Prunela Tembo, Community Services Officer from Plumtree Town Council, Mrs Merjury Sikundla, Provincial Development Officer in the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Mrs Memory Mugwagwa, Regional Immigration Officer covering Plumtree, Mphoengs, Maitengwe and Mlambapele Border Posts.

Speaking at the launch, IMF AFRITAC South Consultant Mrs Janice Barnett reaffirmed the IMF's support for the initiative, saying the organisation looked forward to contributing towards revenue mobilisation.

IMF AFRITAC South Resident Customs Administration Advisor Mr Stephen Mendes said the pilot could potentially provide a foundation for broader initiatives to bring informal traders into the formal economy across Africa.

Representing the Acting Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Regional Manager, Region 2 Customs & Excise, Mr Bekezela. Majokojoko, said the initiative would strengthen the relationship between ZIMRA and small traders.

He said Customs plays an important role not only in revenue collection, but also in facilitating legitimate international trade and supporting businesses engaged in cross border commerce. Small traders, he noted, contribute significantly to livelihoods, economic activity and the movement of goods across Zimbabwe's borders.

Mr Majokojoko said the objective of the pilot was not simply to register traders, but to support their transition into the formal economy in a practical, supportive and sustainable manner.

Mrs. Sikundla encouraged stakeholders to work together, reminding participants that together they can achieve anything when they put their minds together.

Closing the programme on behalf of the Commissioner of Domestic Taxes, Mr Gideon Nleya, said the initiative recognised the important contribution of small businesses and informal traders to Zimbabwe's economy.

He said Domestic Taxes was responsible not only for administering and collecting domestic taxes, but also for educating, guiding and assisting taxpayers to understand and meet their obligations.

Mr Nleya encouraged traders to approach ZIMRA for assistance on registration, tax obligations, record keeping, returns and other compliance requirements. He also emphasised that trader feedback would be critical in identifying areas where processes could be simplified.

The launch included presentations on the STPP by the ZIMRA Project team, completion of questionnaires led by the Project Coordinator Mrs. Silvia Chauke and a walkthrough of the process flow and a visit to the STPP Priority Desk, allowing stakeholders to observe the initiative in practice.

The pilot is based on collaboration among ZIMRA, Government institutions, development partners, local leadership and the trading community. Its success will depend on continued engagement and feedback from traders as the project is monitored and reviewed.

The Plumtree STPP seeks to build a relationship between ZIMRA and small traders based on education, facilitation, compliance and mutual trust, while generating lessons that could inform future initiatives beyond Plumtree.

By Chenayi Maponga

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) celebrated its Silver Jubilee on 2 September 2026, marking 25 years of revenue mobilisation, service delivery, transformation and national service.

The colourful celebration, held at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC), brought together Government officials, current and former ZIMRA leaders, taxpayers, development partners, representatives of regional and international revenue administrations, industry and commerce, staff and other stakeholders.

Established in 2001 through the integration of the former Department of Taxes and Department of Customs and Excise, ZIMRA has grown into a modern revenue administration institution with a shared identity and mandate. As Commissioner General Regina Chinamasa noted, the journey has transformed the organisation from two institutions into “One ZIMRA”, supported by people, technology, experience and a common purpose.

Reflecting on the Authority's journey and its future, Commissioner General Chinamasa said:

“We came together as two institutions. We became One ZIMRA. We have transformed how we work. Now we must transform what is possible. We have served Zimbabwe for 25 years. And we are ready to serve for the next 25 — with greater agility, greater intelligence, greater purpose and an even greater commitment to excellence. This is ZIMRA@25. This is our journey. This is our moment. And the best of ZIMRA is still ahead.”

Over the past 25 years, ZIMRA has progressively modernised its operations through investments in technology and innovation, including TaRMS, FDMS, successive generations of ASYCUDA, electronic cargo tracking, scanners, the Electronic Single Window, eTariff, eTIP and drone technology. These developments have transformed how the Authority interacts with taxpayers, manages compliance and facilitates legitimate trade.

The Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Hon. Prof. Mthuli Ncube, reflected on ZIMRA's growth against the changing Zimbabwean economy.

“Over these 25 years, ZIMRA has responded to the changing economic dictates of our country. From collecting millions in its early years, the Authority now mobilises billions in revenue. That is not merely the story of an institution growing in size. It is also a reflection of an economy that has evolved, expanded and become increasingly complex. Today, Zimbabwe is a US$50 billion-plus economy and continues to grow. As our economy expands, ZIMRA must rise with it.”

The Silver Jubilee was also a celebration of the taxpayers and stakeholders who have been partners in ZIMRA's journey. The Authority recognised 40 top-performing and compliant taxpayers, acknowledging their contribution to a culture of voluntary compliance and responsible citizenship.

The Commissioner General emphasised that the Taxpayer Appreciation Awards have grown beyond an annual event to become an important expression of ZIMRA's appreciation of stakeholders whose cooperation makes effective revenue administration possible.

The ZIMRA Board Chairman, Mr Anthony Mandiwanza, said the anniversary was not only an opportunity to celebrate the institution's achievements, but also to consider the responsibility of preparing it for the future.

“As we look towards the next quarter century, our task as a Board is not simply to preserve what has been built, but to ensure that ZIMRA remains fit for purpose, future-ready and capable of responding to an increasingly digital and interconnected economy. But anniversaries are ultimately about legacy. Twenty-five years from now, another generation will stand where we stand today. They will inherit the institution shaped by the choices we make in this generation. Our charge is therefore to leave ZIMRA stronger, more resilient, more trusted and more institutionally secure than we found it.”

The celebration also recognised the people behind ZIMRA's transformation, including employees who have served the Authority since its establishment. Approximately 600 employees who were already serving when ZIMRA was established in 2001 continue to contribute their institutional knowledge and experience.

As ZIMRA looks beyond its Silver Jubilee, the focus is firmly on the future — greater agility, innovation, intelligence, service excellence and stronger partnerships with taxpayers and stakeholders.

Twenty-five years represents a significant chapter in ZIMRA's history. The anniversary celebrated how far the Authority has come, while setting the foundation for the next 25 years of excellence in revenue mobilisation and service delivery.

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has encouraged businesses to embrace digital solutions in managing their tax affairs as the Authority continues to modernise and digitalise revenue administration.

The call was made during a taxpayer breakfast meeting held at Suburban Village in Gweru on the sidelines of the Midlands Agricultural Show.

Addressing members of the business community, ZIMRA Regional Manager for Domestic Taxes Region 3, Mr Mkhululi Nkulumo, highlighted the Authority’s ongoing digitalisation drive, which is aimed at making tax administration more efficient, accessible and convenient for taxpayers.

Mr Nkulumo urged businesses to complement ZIMRA’s digital transformation by also digitalising their tax processes and taking full advantage of the electronic systems being introduced by the Authority.

He particularly encouraged taxpayers to embrace platforms such as the Fiscalisation Data Management System (FDMS), which supports improved management and transmission of fiscal information while enhancing efficiency in tax compliance.

“As ZIMRA continues to digitalise its operations, businesses must also move with the transformation by embracing the digital platforms available to them. This will make tax compliance easier, more efficient and more convenient,” said Mr Nkululi.

The breakfast meeting provided an opportunity for ZIMRA officials and members of the business community to engage directly on tax matters, share information and address issues affecting taxpayers.

The engagement forms part of ZIMRA’s broader taxpayer education and awareness drive, which seeks to bring tax information and services closer to taxpayers while promoting voluntary compliance through continuous dialogue and stakeholder engagement.

ZIMRA’s participation at the Midlands Agricultural Show further provides businesses, farmers, traders and members of the public with an opportunity to interact with the Authority and obtain guidance on their tax obligations, available digital services and other tax-related matters.

Through such engagements, ZIMRA continues to strengthen partnerships with taxpayers and promote the use of technology as a key enabler of efficient revenue administration and improved service delivery.

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has installed a 40 kVA solar power system to power the newly upgraded Mlambapele Border Post and Staff Accommodation comprising 68 solar panels, each rated at 585 watts. Thirty-six panels were installed to power the border post, while 32 panels supply the Staff Accommodation. This was supplied and delivered by Sypremo Investments.

Commenting on the efficiency of the installation, Mr Denford Munemo from the ZIMRA Engineering Department said the system had been designed to provide dependable and sustainable power for the new facility.

“The 40 kVA solar system provides an efficient and reliable source of electricity for the newly constructed border post and Staff Accommodation. Its solar generation and battery-storage capacity will help minimise power interruptions, support continuous border operations and reduce dependence on conventional energy sources,” said Mr Munemo.

Collectively, the panels have an installed generation capacity of approximately 39.78 kilowatts peak. The border post installation accounts for approximately 21.06 kilowatts peak, while the Staff Accommodation installation has a capacity of approximately 18.72 kilowatts peak.

The border post is also supported by five 48-volt, 200-ampere-hour batteries, providing an estimated combined nominal storage capacity of 48 kilowatt-hours. The battery storage will help maintain electricity supply when solar generation is reduced or unavailable.

By providing a reliable source of electricity, the system will support border-processing equipment, communication systems, lighting and other facilities required for the efficient facilitation of trade and travel.

Reliable power will help minimise disruptions, improve the processing of travellers and goods, and enable officers to serve clients more efficiently. The system will also improve the living and working conditions of officers stationed at the border post.

Beyond enhancing operational reliability and staff welfare, the project supports ZIMRA’s commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance principles.

The adoption of solar energy reduces dependence on conventional electricity sources and diesel-powered generators, contributing to lower fossil-fuel consumption, reduced greenhouse-gas emissions and a smaller carbon footprint.

The project demonstrates how renewable energy can power modern border infrastructure, strengthen service delivery, enhance staff welfare and promote environmentally responsible border management.

Mlambapele Border Post is located along the border between Zimbabwe and Botswana, southwest of Gwanda and approximately 130 kilometres from the town. The border post serves members of the general public and traders from surrounding communities, including Manama in Zimbabwe and the Mabolwe settlement in Botswana, facilitating the movement of people and goods between the two countries.

Vice President Hon. (Rtd) Col. Kembo C.D. Mohadi officially commissioned the Kasambabezi Border Post in Binga on 24 July 2026, marking a major milestone in strengthening trade, travel and connectivity between Zimbabwe and Zambia.

The development has transformed what was once an informal and potentially risky crossing point over the Zambezi River into a modern, secure and recognised gateway for the lawful movement of people and goods.

The commissioning ceremony was attended by the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, the Minister of State for Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution, and senior Government and border-management officials from Zimbabwe and Zambia.

The new border post is expected to promote safe and legal cross-border trade, enhance border security, improve the management of travellers and goods, support tourism and strengthen revenue mobilisation. It will also create new economic opportunities for businesses and communities located along the Zimbabwe–Zambia border.

For ZIMRA, the modern facility provides an improved environment for facilitating trade and travel while ensuring that customs laws and procedures are efficiently administered. The border post will make it easier for traders and travellers to comply with border requirements while helping to curb informal and illegal cross-border activities.

Beyond its economic significance, Kasambabezi Border Post carries an important social and cultural value. It reconnects communities and families in Binga and Namafulu who have long shared historical, cultural and family ties across the Zambezi River.

The border post therefore represents more than physical infrastructure. It is a bridge between communities, a gateway for regional integration and a catalyst for inclusive economic growth.

A border that connects people. A gateway that grows economies.

"The future of revenue administration will be shaped by data, digital technologies and intelligent systems. Our responsibility is to ensure that ZIMRA leads this transformation responsibly, innovates with confidence and continues to serve the nation with excellence," ZIMRA Board Chairman

Technology is at its best when it makes services simpler, faster and more responsive.

That's why ZIMRA is investing in responsible Artificial Intelligence.

Opening the ZIMRA Board and Executive Management Workshop on Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Data Protection in Masvingo, the Board Chairman reaffirmed ZIMRA's commitment to harnessing innovation responsibly to improve taxpayer services, strengthen compliance, facilitate trade and safeguard taxpayer data.

As revenue administration evolves, ZIMRA is investing in the leadership, governance and digital capabilities needed to deliver modern, efficient and trusted services that support Zimbabwe's development.

Shaping the future of revenue administration, responsibly.