
Local authorities across Zimbabwe rely on shop licensing systems to regulate business operations and generate revenue. However, business compliance remains a national challenge, with ZimStat finding that 76.1% of business establishments in Zimbabwe are informal. This study reviews the development of a GIS-based web application designed to facilitate shop license processes for both authorities and business owners in Chinhoyi Municipality. The system integrates GIS, centralized databases, and web technologies to improve license management, enhance revenue collection, and support data-driven decision-making in small-town African contexts.