Zimbabwe’s march toward Vision 2030 is being hampered by outdated professional laws that restrict collaboration and innovation. These barriers, coupled with entrenched regimentation in key professions, have stifled the country’s global competitiveness, fueled an unsustainable import bill, and perpetuated precarious balance-of-payment positions.
Indigenous Advisory Practitioners Association of Zimbabwe (IAPAZ), Secretary General Last Matema has passionately decried the restrictive frameworks governing professions such as law, accounting, and engineering.
Speaking on the matter, he highlighted how the over-protective nature of professional practices has hindered growth and innovation.
“Our laws are shackles, not safeguards,” he said.
“Deloitte, EY, and other global firms thrive because they’ve broken down barriers between disciplines. These companies consult on everything from defense to security, offering holistic solutions that transcend traditional boundaries. Meanwhile, in Zimbabwe, we remain stuck in costly silos that limit our firms’ ability to compete globally. This is not only a missed opportunity for our professionals but a national tragedy.”
The siloism Matema refers to is deeply rooted in the legislative frameworks governing Zimbabwean professions. The Legal Practitioners Act confines lawyers to their domain, preventing them from forming partnerships with non-lawyers. Similarly, the Public Accountants and Auditors Act restrict accountants to their own discipline, while the Engineering Council Act prohibits engineers from collaborating under multidisciplinary structures.
“These laws were drafted in an era when professional independence was the primary concern,” Matema explained.
“But in today’s interconnected world, no profession can thrive in isolation. Instead of fostering collaboration, these outdated frameworks have entrenched regimentation, stifling creativity and innovation. They’ve locked professionals into rigid roles, making it nearly impossible to deliver the integrated solutions demanded by modern markets.”
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This regimentation has not only held back Zimbabwean firms but has also had dire economic consequences. The inability to offer integrated services has forced businesses and government projects to rely heavily on foreign expertise, escalating costs and increasing the nation’s import dependency. Over time, this has left Zimbabwe in a precarious balance-of-payment position, perpetuating economic vulnerabilities year after year.
“Innovation dies where collaboration is forbidden,” Matema asserted.
“Our failure to embrace multidisciplinary practices has fueled inefficiencies and inflated costs, both for businesses and for the government. Worse, it has left us reliant on imported expertise and goods, swelling our trade deficit and undermining our economic sovereignty.”
In contrast, other countries have moved boldly to dismantle professional silos. The United Kingdom’s Legal Services Act of 2007 is a prime example, introducing Alternative Business Structures (ABS) that allow professionals from various fields to collaborate within a single entity. This model has enabled firms like Deloitte and EY to expand their services across multiple disciplines, dominate international markets, and innovate in ways that Zimbabwean firms can only dream of under the current laws.
“These global firms are no longer just accountants or auditors—they’re comprehensive consultants,” Matema said.
“They’ve become architects of solutions that cut across industries and geographies. This is the level of versatility and competitiveness Zimbabwe must aspire to if we’re serious about Vision 2030.”
The absence of such versatility has not only stifled professional growth but has also undermined the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which contribute over 60% of Zimbabwe’s GDP. SMEs often require integrated advisory services to navigate complex markets, but the fragmented nature of professional practices has made such services prohibitively expensive or unavailable.
“Every inefficiency in our professional system is a cost borne by SMEs and, ultimately, by the economy,” Added Matema.
“These inefficiencies inflate our import bill, delay national projects, and erode the competitiveness of local businesses. This is egoism masquerading as professionalism, and it’s doing a disservice to the nation.”
To address these challenges, IAPAZ is advocating for sweeping reforms. The association believes that amending Zimbabwe’s professional laws to allow multidisciplinary practices and introduce frameworks for Alternative Business Structures is essential. Matema also emphasized the need to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as an opportunity to harmonize professional standards and enhance regional competitiveness.
“The government’s mantra, Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo (A country is built by its citizens), must extend to creating an environment where professionals can collaborate freely,” he said. “Vision 2030 requires us to be bold, innovative, and globally competitive. We can’t achieve that if our laws force us to work in silos.”
Matema’s rallying cry is a call to action for policymakers, stakeholders, and professionals to break free from the constraints of regimentation and embrace a future defined by collaboration and innovation.
“Vision 2030 is within our grasp, but only if we’re courageous enough to let go of outdated practices,” he concluded. “Siloism and egoism have cost us too much already. It’s time to unlock the potential of Zimbabwean professionals and build a future worthy of our ambition.”
- Last Matema is the Secretary General of the Indigenous Advisory Practitioners Association of Zimbabwe (IAPAZ)
