Zimbabwe to Allow Duty-Free Fertiliser Imports Ahead of El Niño

By Southerton Business Times Reporter, Harare

The Government has announced plans to allow duty-free imports of basal and top-dressing fertilisers as Zimbabwe prepares for a 2026/2027 summer cropping season threatened by a predicted Super El Niño and rising global input costs.

The measures form part of a broader strategy to protect agricultural production and cushion households against potential food shortages and price increases. The announcement was made during Tuesday’s Post-Cabinet Media Briefing in Harare, presented by Acting Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Paul Mavhima.

According to the Government, the coming agricultural season faces two major risks: the predicted El Niño weather phenomenon and geopolitical tensions expected to push up fuel and fertiliser prices while disrupting supplies. Cabinet said the 2026/2027 Summer Plan builds on lessons from the 2024/2025 season, when Zimbabwe experienced its worst drought since 1980, according to the briefing.

The plan is anchored on six strategic pillars: strengthening the Strategic Grain Reserve, accelerating climate-smart agricultural production, improving financing arrangements, mitigating livestock drought risks, enhancing imports, and strengthening coordination, early-warning systems and capacity building.

Duty-Free Fertiliser Imports to Address Expected Shortages

Professor Mavhima said Government and the private sector, including self-financing farmers, had mobilised funding for the summer cropping season. He said Statutory Instrument 214 of 2025 had provided for the importation of 150,000 metric tonnes of ammonium nitrate and 100,000 metric tonnes of urea.

However, elevated international prices and anticipated logistical delays have raised concerns about the availability and affordability of fertilisers. “To meet the expected shortages in local production, the duty-free importation of both basal and top-dressing fertilisers will be allowed,” the minister said. Government also highlighted Statutory Instrument 59 of 2006, which allows households to continue importing basic commodities duty-free until March 2028.

The measure is intended to cushion consumers against price shocks at a time when drought risks could place additional pressure on food supplies and household budgets. The effectiveness of the measures will depend on the availability of imports, delivery timelines and farmers’ ability to access affordable inputs before the planting season progresses.

Government Threatens Action Against Non-Compliant Foreign Businesses

Cabinet also resolved to introduce stiffer penalties against foreign-owned businesses operating in sectors reserved for Zimbabwean citizens where they have failed to comply with the law.

According to the briefing, the Government has conducted awareness campaigns and issued notices to businesses required to regularise their operations. However, Cabinet said many foreign-owned entities had yet to comply, particularly in sectors including retail and brick moulding.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce will suspend or revoke operating licences of businesses found to be non-compliant with regulations governing reserved sectors. The proposed enforcement measures signal a renewed push by Government to ensure that businesses operating in protected sectors adhere to the applicable legal framework.

Zimbabwe Signs ICT Agreements With Serbia and Tajikistan

Cabinet was also informed that Zimbabwe had signed memorandums of understanding with Serbia and Tajikistan in information and communication technology.

The agreements are intended to support cooperation in cybersecurity and advance Zimbabwe’s digital transformation agenda. Further details on implementation, timelines and specific projects were not provided in the briefing.

SADC Anti-Sanctions Commemorations Set for Bindura

Cabinet discussed preparations for the 2026 SADC Anti-Sanctions Solidarity Day commemorations, which will be held in Bindura, Mashonaland Central Province. This year’s theme is “Leveraging Regional Integration and Global Partnerships for Economic Transformation beyond Illegal Sanctions”.

According to Professor Mavhima, the theme reflects Zimbabwe’s emphasis on regional cooperation, collective self-reliance and stronger economic partnerships. The commemorations are also expected to provide an opportunity for Government to discuss the economic effects it attributes to sanctions and their wider regional implications.

The briefing highlighted efforts to reduce regulatory, administrative and logistical barriers to intra-regional trade, remove tariff and non-tariff barriers, and strengthen regional value chains.

Cabinet also reviewed the 19th edition of the CEO Africa Roundtable, held in Cape Town, South Africa, where discussions focused on intra-African trade.

The decisions and updates reflect Government’s efforts to prepare for potential agricultural and economic pressures while pursuing regional integration, digitalisation and stricter enforcement of business regulations.

Zimbabwe duty-free fertiliser imports