The Government has announced a five-month moratorium on the regulation of e-hailing transport services as part of a broader effort to streamline the sector and develop a comprehensive framework.

The decision was revealed on Tuesday after a Cabinet meeting where Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube presented a report on the review of licences, permits, levies and fees affecting e-hailing operators.

During this period, platforms such as Bolt, InDrive, Tap & Go, GoFaster and KOSE will continue operating while authorities work with industry players to create a self-regulatory system aimed at improving passenger safety and service standards.

Professor Ncube noted that e-hailing had become a vital component of the country’s transport network, offering convenient and affordable services while generating employment opportunities, particularly for young people.

However, he acknowledged that regulatory challenges were hampering the ease of doing business in the sector, prompting the need for a temporary freeze to allow for consultations and policy development.

As part of the interim measures, e-hailing businesses will be required to register with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), and operators already registered will need to regularise their tax status. This move is expected to bring the growing sector further into the formal revenue system and clarify tax obligations for drivers and platform owners.

Cabinet has also directed the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development to draft specific regulations for e-hailing services in consultation with stakeholders, taking into account international best practices.

The moratorium is part of a wider review covering 13 priority sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, transport, energy and mining, aimed at reducing costs and simplifying regulatory processes to enhance economic competitiveness.