The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) will bring ride-hailing and Airbnb operators into the tax net from 2026, as the country joins a growing African push to formalise the booming digital economy.
ZIMRA’s commissioner for domestic taxes, Misheck Govha, this week announced advanced plans to roll out a dedicated e-commerce tax platform next year.
The system will target fast-growing sectors such as ride-hailing services, including InDrive, Bolt and short-term accommodation providers like Airbnb.
According to Zimpapers, stepping up efforts to formalise the digital economy comes after the successful implementation of the Tax and Revenue Management System, and represents the authority’s boldest attempt yet to capture revenue from online transactions.
“Every trader in Zimbabwe should make sure that they are compliant, and they pay their taxes. The source of those revenues is Zimbabwe. And as such, Zimbabwe has the entitlement to take the right for those incomes,” said Govha.
E-hailing is one of Africa’s fastest-growing digital markets, fuelled by smartphone penetration, mobile money, and urban congestion.
In Zimbabwe, ride-hailing is projected to generate over US$5m in revenue this year, with more than 2.5 million users expected by 2030.
Across Africa, the industry has taken off at an alarming speed and is valued at US$2.53bn, with a forecast to grow to US$3.16 billion by 2030, driven largely by motorcycles and app-based platforms.
The accommodation sector is also booming. Airbnb hosts across Africa earned US$13bn in the past year, with South Africa leading the market and countries like Nigeria, Morocco, and Ghana recording strong growth. In Cape Town alone, hosts earned roughly R14bn in 2023, underlining the scale of the opportunity.
Commissioner Govha warned that no player, domestic or foreign, will escape the tax net.
“We have no one we are going to leave behind, as far as registration is concerned of those who are BNBs and InDrives. Even if you own the vehicle, make sure that it is properly registered and is subscribed according to the laws of the country,” he said.
Zimbabwe’s approach reflects a wider African trend as governments push to formalise the digital economy and ensure fair taxation while tapping into the continent’s rapidly expanding e-commerce markets.
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