Zimbabwe’s government has taken swift action to shield citizens from the impact of rising global fuel prices and commodity shortages triggered by the Middle East conflict. In a bid to stabilize prices and ensure the availability of essential goods, the government has exempted individuals from obtaining import licenses for basic commodities, effective immediately.
The move, announced through Statutory Instrument 59 of 2026, allows citizens to import a range of essential goods, including cooking oil, sugar, cereals, and toiletries, without an import license, once a month. The exemption applies to goods for personal use, with specific quantity limits.
This decision is part of a broader package of measures aimed at mitigating the effects of the global price surge, including a reduction in taxes on fuel and an increase in the ethanol blending ratio from E5 to E20. The government hopes that these initiatives will help stabilize fuel prices and cushion citizens from the impact of global market volatility.
The exempted goods include: Cooking oil (4 litres), Sugar (4 kg), Cereals (2 kg), Jam (2 kg), Peanut butter (2 kg), Margarine (2 kg), Laundry bar soap (1 box of 24 bars), Washing powder (4 kg), One (1) blanket, Four pieces of cotton woven fabric and Body creams or petroleum jellies. (1 case of 6)
The exemption also applies to personal goods belonging to deceased estates, diplomats, returning residents, and immigrants. This timely intervention is expected to bring relief to Zimbabwean households as they navigate the challenges posed by the global economic landscape.
