Zimbabwe has announced a 15% Digital Services Withholding Tax (DSWT) on payments for digital services provided by foreign companies, including Starlink’s satellite internet service, effective 1 January 2026.
The measure was announced in the 2026 National Budget by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube and targets a wide range of offshore services that do not maintain a physical presence in the country.
These include streaming platforms such as Netflix and Spotify, satellite internet providers like Starlink, ride-hailing apps, online content subscriptions, and other digital services.
However, the longer-term question is whether these tax measures will eventually push foreign digital service providers to establish a physical presence in African markets, either to sustain their market position or to better navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.
How providers respond to this pressure could define the next phase of Africa’s digital economy.
Source: https://spaceinafrica.com/2025/12/02/zimbabwes-new-digital-tax-targets-satellite-internet-providers-including-starlink/