Digital Documents Take Over: ZIMRA Transitions COMESA Certification to Online Platform. Will ZIMRA's Infrastructure Withstand the Transition?
Zimbabwe has taken a significant step towards modernising its trade processes by implementing the digital COMESA Certificate of Origin (e-CoO) system. The new system, which goes live on August 1, 2025, will streamline the certification process for export goods and provide numerous benefits to both exporters and customs agents.
The e-CoO system will automate the processing of applications, reduce fraud risks, and eliminate paper use, resulting in cost savings. It will also improve cross-border trade efficiency as other COMESA member states can instantly verify certificates through the regional online platform.
Exporters in Zimbabwe are advised to register on the Zimbabwe Electronic Single Window (ZeSW) platform to apply for the e-CoO. All applications must be submitted through the ZeSW system from August 1, 2025, marking the end of the manual COMESA Certificates of Origin system.
The benefits of this digital system are evident. Faster approval times, reduced fraud risk, cost savings, and cross-border efficiency are just a few of the advantages exporters and customs agents stand to gain.
This transition aligns with regional moves by countries like Zambia, Malawi, and Eswatini under the COMESA Digital Free Trade Area (DFTA) initiative, aiming for a full regional digital rollout by 2026. Zimbabwe's implementation of this online system is a significant step towards catching up with other countries in the region on facilitating digital trade.
The private sector stands to gain from this transition with simpler processes and fewer delays. The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has seen a surge in TaRMS registrations, their Tax and Revenue Management System, with a 116% increase as of mid-2025.
However, it's crucial to ensure the successful implementation of digital systems. An impact study from 2024 showed digital certification reduced processing times and cut costs for both businesses and customs. Yet, a survey by ZIMRA shows that only 15% of people strongly agree that ZIMRA's system works well and is always available when needed.
The Commissioner of Customs and Excise from ZIMRA chaired a June 2025 workshop in Lusaka where officials confirmed they were still chasing the goal of full regional rollout by 2026. The successful implementation of this digital system will undoubtedly determine the success of this transition and Zimbabwe's role in the COMESA DFTA initiative.
Zimbabwe has been praised for taking a leading role in recent COMESA meetings, and this transition to digital COMESA Certificates of Origin is a major change that has the potential to shave days off the export process and make doing business across borders less painful.
[1] Techzim (2025). ZIMRA Digital COMESA Certificates from August 2025. Available at: https://www.techzim.co.zw/2025/07/zimra-digital-comesa-certificates-august-2025/
[2] Bustop TV (2025). ZIMRA Launches Online System for COMESA Certificates of Origin. Available at: https://www.bustop.tv/zimra-launches-online-system-for-comesa-certificates-of-origin/
[4] Business Daily (2025). ZIMRA Introduces Digitized COMESA Certificates of Origin. Available at: http://www.businessdaily.co.zw/index-id-national-zk-50804.html
[5] IHarare (2025). ZIMRA Introduces Digitized COMESA Certificates of Origin. Available at: https://iharare.com/zimra-introduces-digitized-comesa-certificates-of-origins/
- The implementation of the digital COMESA Certificate of Origin (e-CoO) system in Zimbabwe aligns with the country's efforts to modernize its business sector and finance, as it is expected to streamline the certification process for export goods and provide numerous benefits, such as cost savings and improved cross-border trade efficiency.
- With the launch of the Zimbabwe Electronic Single Window (ZeSW) platform for e-CoO applications and the transition away from the manual COMESA Certificates of Origin system, the technology sector in Zimbabwe is poised for growth, as this digital system promises to revolutionize general-news aspects such as customs procedures and cross-border trade.
