By Star Nolwazi
Zimbabwe’s first wave of medicinal cannabis producers, licensed in 2021, must renew their permits this year or risk losing their operating rights, according to an official circular issued Monday by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ).
In Circular 01 of 2026, the regulatory body notified all holders of licences numbered 001/2021 to 010/2021 that their five-year validity period is set to lapse. The authority warned it “will not accept applications for renewal of expired licences.”
The renewal carries a significant financial requirement: a $20,000 fee, payable in U.S. dollars. The MCAZ outlined payment options through its cash office or via a designated Nedbank account in Harare, cautioning that bank transfer fees must be covered by the applicant to avoid a payment shortfall.
The renewal process is governed by Section 14 of the Dangerous Drugs (Production of Cannabis for Medicinal and Scientific Use) Regulations, Statutory Instrument 62 of 2018. Applicants must submit a completed application form (DDPC1), a copy of the original licence, proof of compliance with existing licence conditions, and in cases where company directors have changed certified identification, updated corporate documents, and security clearance fingerprints processed by the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
The regulations provide a grace period.
“If a renewal application is submitted before expiry but not decided by the authority by the licence’s expiration date, the licence remains valid until the MCAZ delivers its final decision.”
This renewal milestone marks a critical juncture for Zimbabwe’s medicinal cannabis sector, which was formally legalized for medicinal and scientific purposes in 2018. The industry has been viewed by the government as a potential source of significant export revenue and agricultural diversification.
