How to Start a Security Company in Zimbabwe

Starting a Security Company in Zimbabwe

The private security industry in Zimbabwe is one of the fastest-growing sectors, driven by increasing demand from businesses, residential estates, mining operations, NGOs, and government contractors. With concerns about property crime, theft, and the need for access control, security companies are in constant demand across all major cities and rural commercial areas.

However, starting a security company is not as simple as hiring guards and finding clients. The industry is heavily regulated under the Private Investigators and Security Guards (Control) Act [Chapter 27:10], and operators must comply with registration, licensing, training, and operational standards. This guide covers everything you need to know to legally and successfully launch a security company in Zimbabwe.

Industry Overview

Zimbabwe’s private security sector includes several service categories:

• Manned guarding: Static guards at premises (offices, factories, residences, construction sites)
• Mobile patrols: Armed or unarmed response vehicles patrolling designated areas
• Event security: Crowd control and access management at events, conferences, and concerts
• Cash-in-transit: Secure transport of cash and valuables (highly regulated, high barrier to entry)
• Electronic security: CCTV installation, alarm systems, access control systems
• Private investigation: Background checks, fraud investigation, due diligence
• VIP protection: Close protection (bodyguard) services for individuals
• K9 security: Trained dog patrols for detection and deterrence

Most new entrants start with manned guarding as it requires the lowest capital investment and has the broadest market demand. You can expand into other services as you grow.

Legal Requirements and Licensing

1. Company Registration

First, register your business as a legal entity. A Private Limited Company (Pvt Ltd) is strongly recommended for security businesses because:

• Limited liability protects your personal assets from claims arising from security incidents
• Corporate clients and government agencies prefer contracting with registered companies
• PRAZ registration requires a registered company
• Insurance companies require a registered entity

Registration costs start from USD 150 and takes 2–4 weeks. See our company registration guide for the full process.

2. Private Investigators and Security Guards Act Compliance

The Private Investigators and Security Guards (Control) Act [Chapter 27:10] governs all private security operations in Zimbabwe. Under this Act, you must:

• Apply for a security services licence from the Registrar of Private Investigators and Security Guards
• Ensure all directors and key personnel pass security vetting (police clearance, background checks)
• Maintain records of all employees, their training, and deployments
• Comply with prescribed standards for uniforms, equipment, and operations
• Report security incidents to the relevant authorities

3. PRAZ Registration

The Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) maintains a register of approved suppliers for government and parastatal contracts. While not legally required for private-sector-only operations, PRAZ registration is essential because:

• Government ministries, parastatals, and local authorities can only contract PRAZ-registered suppliers
• Many private companies require PRAZ registration as a pre-qualification criterion
• It demonstrates credibility and compliance to potential clients

PRAZ registration involves submitting company documents, tax clearance from ZIMRA, proof of capacity, and paying the applicable fee (typically USD 500–1,500 depending on category).

4. ZIMRA Tax Registration

Register with ZIMRA for:

• Income Tax: Corporate tax at 24.72% on profits
• PAYE: Withhold and remit employee income tax
• VAT: Register if annual turnover exceeds the VAT threshold (currently USD 40,000). Most security companies will exceed this quickly.
• Withholding Tax: Applicable on certain payments

Visit ZimTax.co.zw for detailed guidance on security company tax obligations.

5. NSSA Registration

Register with the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) for workers’ compensation and pension contributions. This is mandatory for all employers. NSSA contributions are approximately 3.5% of gross salary (employer) plus 3.5% (employee).

6. Municipal Business Licence

Obtain a business licence from the city or town council where your head office is located. You may need additional licences if you operate branches in other cities.

7. Insurance

Security companies must carry several types of insurance:

Insurance Type	Purpose	Estimated Annual Cost (USD)
Public liability	Claims from third parties for injury or damage	00 – ,000
Professional indemnity	Errors, omissions, or negligence in service delivery	00 – ,500
Workers’ compensation	Employee injuries on duty (via NSSA or private insurer)	NSSA rates + top-up
Motor vehicle	Patrol and response vehicles	00 – ,000 per vehicle
Cash-in-transit	Loss of client valuables during transit (if applicable)	,000 – 0,000
Fidelity guarantee	Employee theft or dishonesty	00 – 00

See our business insurance guide for more details.

Startup Costs Breakdown

Item	Small Operation (10 guards)	Medium Operation (30 guards)
Company registration	50	50
Security services licence	00 – 00	00 – 00
PRAZ registration	00 – ,500	00 – ,500
Uniforms (per guard)	,500 (50 × 10)	,500 (50 × 30)
Equipment (torches, batons, handcuffs, radios)	,000 – ,000	,000 – ,000
Patrol vehicle (used)	,000 – ,000	5,000 – 5,000 (2-3 vehicles)
Office setup (rent, furniture, IT)	,000 – ,000	,000 – ,000
Insurance (annual)	,000 – ,000	,000 – ,000
Guard training	,000 – ,000	,000 – ,000
First month salaries	,500 – ,000	,500 – 2,000
Working capital (3 months)	,000 – 0,000	5,000 – 0,000
Total estimated	8,850 – 5,000	4,850 – 9,650

Training Requirements for Security Guards

Properly trained guards are the foundation of a successful security company. Untrained guards create liability risks and damage your reputation. The following training is recommended or required:

Basic Security Training (Mandatory)

All guards should complete a basic security training course covering:

• Access control: Managing entry and exit points, visitor management, vehicle checks
• Patrol procedures: Systematic patrol techniques, observation skills, reporting suspicious activity
• Report writing: Occurrence book entries, incident reports, shift handover reports
• First aid: Basic first aid, CPR, emergency response procedures
• Fire safety: Fire extinguisher use, evacuation procedures, fire prevention
• Customer service: Professional conduct, communication skills, conflict resolution
• Legal awareness: Citizens’ arrest powers, use of force, rights of persons, trespass law
• Radio communication: Proper radio procedure, codes, and protocols

Basic courses are typically 2–4 weeks and cost USD 100–200 per guard.

Armed Guard Training (If Applicable)

If your company will provide armed security services (response vehicles, cash-in-transit, VIP protection), guards need:

• Firearms competency certificate from the Zimbabwe Republic Police
• Firearms handling training: Safety, maintenance, marksmanship
• Use of force continuum: When and how to use lethal force legally
• Tactical training: Room clearance, vehicle stops, crowd control

Specialised Training

Depending on your services, additional training may include:

• CCTV monitoring and control room operations
• K9 handling (dog patrol units)
• Close protection (bodyguard) techniques
• Cash-in-transit procedures
• Electronic security systems (alarms, access control installation)

Equipment and Uniforms

Professional equipment is essential for credibility and effectiveness:

Guard Uniform (Per Guard)

• 2 sets of uniform (shirt, trousers/skirt) — branded with company logo
• 1 pair of boots (black, steel-toe recommended)
• 1 beret or cap
• 1 belt and accessories
• Reflective vest (for night duty)
• Rain gear
• ID badge with photo

Budget approximately USD 100–200 per guard for a complete uniform set.

Operational Equipment

• Torches: Rechargeable LED torches for each guard
• Batons: Expandable or fixed batons (where legally permitted)
• Handcuffs: For citizen’s arrest situations
• Two-way radios: For communication between guards, control room, and patrol vehicles
• Guard tour systems: Electronic checkpoint scanners (pipe/tag systems) to verify patrol compliance
• Occurrence books: Hardcover logbooks for each site
• First aid kits: One per site

Step-by-Step: Launching Your Security Company

Step 1: Register Your Company

Register a Private Limited Company with a name that reflects your security services (e.g., “Sentinel Security Services Pvt Ltd”). Our registration packages start from USD 150.

Step 2: Obtain Security Licence

Apply to the Registrar of Private Investigators and Security Guards for a security services licence. Submit:

• Company registration certificate
• Police clearance for all directors
• Proof of office address
• Details of proposed services
• Proof of insurance
• Application fee

Step 3: Register with PRAZ

Apply for PRAZ registration in the “Security Services” category. This opens access to government and parastatal contracts.

Step 4: Tax and NSSA Registration

Register with ZIMRA for income tax, PAYE, and VAT. Register with NSSA for workers’ compensation and pension.

Step 5: Secure Insurance

Obtain public liability, professional indemnity, and motor vehicle insurance at minimum. Major insurers in Zimbabwe include Old Mutual, Nicoz Diamond, Cell Insurance, and Sanctuary.

Step 6: Recruit and Train Guards

Recruit reliable individuals with clean criminal records. Conduct background checks (police clearance, reference checks). Put all recruits through basic security training before deployment.

Step 7: Acquire Equipment

Purchase uniforms, equipment, and at least one patrol/response vehicle. Brand uniforms and vehicles with your company logo and contact details.

Step 8: Set Up Operations

• Establish a control room (even if basic — a dedicated phone line and radio base station)
• Create standard operating procedures (SOPs) for each type of deployment
• Set up payroll and HR systems
• Prepare client contract templates
• Create incident reporting procedures

Step 9: Market and Sell

• Target industrial areas, shopping centres, residential estates, construction sites, and NGOs
• Cold call and visit potential clients with your company profile
• Respond to PRAZ tenders
• Network at business events and through industry associations
• Build an online presence (website, social media)

Revenue and Profitability

Security companies typically charge clients on a monthly contract basis per guard deployed:

Service Type	Monthly Rate per Guard (USD)	Your Cost per Guard (USD)	Gross Margin
Day guard (12hr)	00 – 00	00 – 00	25–40%
Night guard (12hr)	50 – 00	20 – 50	25–40%
24hr guard (2 shifts)	00 – ,000	00 – 50	25–35%
Armed response	00 – ,500	00 – 00	30–40%
Event security (per guard/day)	0 – 0	5 – 0	40–50%

A company deploying 30 guards at an average of USD 450/month generates USD 13,500/month revenue. After costs (salaries, overheads, insurance), net profit margins of 15–25% are typical for well-managed operations.

Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

• Guard reliability: High turnover and absenteeism are the biggest operational challenges. Invest in fair wages, good working conditions, and performance incentives.
• Late payments: Clients often pay 30–60 days after invoicing. Maintain sufficient working capital to cover payroll during payment gaps. Consider invoice financing from financial institutions.
• Competition: The market has many small operators. Differentiate through reliability, training standards, technology (GPS tracking, electronic guard tour), and professional branding.
• Liability: Security incidents (theft, assault, injury) can lead to costly claims. Maintain comprehensive insurance and follow proper SOPs.
• Regulation: Stay updated on regulatory changes. Join the Zimbabwe Security Association for industry updates and advocacy.

Key Contacts

Organisation	Role
Registrar of Private Investigators & Security Guards	Security services licensing
PRAZ (Procurement Regulatory Authority)	Supplier registration for government contracts
ZIMRA	Tax registration and compliance
NSSA	Workers’ compensation and pension
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP)	Firearms licensing, police clearance
City/Town Council	Business licence