NetOne's Tourist SIM, free with a passport
NetOne's Tourist SIM page describes a prepaid product for short-term visitors, with voice, SMS and data, to be offered at airport shops on arrival. The SIM card itself is free for visitors. The page says the operator must register the original, valid passport before it hands over the SIM, and that any valid foreign passport or other valid travel document qualifies. It adds that the product is available as a physical SIM and as an eSIM, and that the SIM is valid for 90 days from activation.
At the time of checking, the bundle table listed $5 for 3 GB over 2 days, $10 for 7 GB over 3 days, $20 for 15 GB over 7 days and $40 for 30 GB over 14 days. The page's process is to buy NetOne airtime first, load it, then dial *401# to pick the bundle. It says bundles are for use within Zimbabwe only, that international calls and SMS are not included and that the Tourist SIM is not eligible for local promotions. The terms also say the bundles are valid for 30 days, which does not match the shorter periods in the table, so ask the shop which applies before you pay.
Econet's eSIM, step by step
Econet's eSIM page describes a digital SIM activated by scanning a QR code, and lists dual-SIM use with a physical card as a feature. It tells users to dial *#06# and look for an EID to check the phone supports eSIM, to connect to Wi-Fi, scan the code, follow the on-screen installation, then copy the ICCID shown in mobile data settings and complete registration through a link. For help it points to the nearest Econet shop.
The page does not say whether a visitor can buy the profile, what it costs or what identification is needed, so we do not claim a tourist eSIM from Econet. Its FAQ says to set the APN to econet.net when using data roaming. The FAQ also mentions that the company's mobile-money service accepts a national ID or a passport at registration.
5G claims, and an unreliable network
Econet says it launched 5G in Zimbabwe on 24 February 2022, describing itself as the first to do so and claiming speeds up to 20 times faster than 4G. That is the operator's marketing statement, and the page we read gives no list of towns or sites where 5G works, so a 5G phone should not count on it.
The UK Foreign Office is blunter about the basics: it says the Zimbabwean mobile phone network and landlines are unreliable, that power blackouts are frequent and sometimes long, and that water is rationed in parts of the country. For a trip, that suggests carrying a charged power bank, downloading maps and booking details while you have Wi-Fi, and asking your lodge whether it has a generator or solar backup. We found no regulator coverage map.
Visa on arrival, the KAZA Univisa and cash limits
The UK Foreign Office says British visitors need a visa, which most get on arrival for usually 30 days, and that you should take enough US dollars in small notes to pay for it. It says an e-visa can be applied for in advance, with single-entry and double-entry options at different prices. The KAZA Univisa, valid for Zimbabwe and Zambia and for day trips into Botswana, costs 50 US dollars and is valid for 30 days, and is sold at Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls airports and at the Victoria Falls and Kazungula land borders.
It also says cash or travellers' cheques worth 10,000 US dollars or more must be declared, and that it is illegal to leave with cash worth more than 2,000 US dollars. Bring dollars in small notes, as the page advises for the visa fee. Rules differ by nationality, so check the Zimbabwean embassy for your own passport.
Photography, State House and what counts as journalism
The UK Foreign Office says it is illegal to photograph government offices, airports, military sites, political party offices, official residences and embassies without special permission, and illegal to photograph police, armed forces, demonstrations and protests, and that the police strictly enforce this. Around State House in Harare, it says photography is illegal, the roads close from 6pm to 6am and GPS navigation should not be used near the President's residence.
It adds that Zimbabwe uses a broad definition of journalism, covering any interview, filming or photography, and that journalism without accreditation is illegal. It tells visitors to think carefully before posting comments or photographs on social media. It also advises carrying a copy of your passport photo page and visa, and keeping the original somewhere safe.
Emergency numbers by network
The UK Foreign Office lists 112 for ambulance, fire and police, adds that NetOne subscribers should dial 114 and Econet subscribers 112, and gives 0800 3222 911 for landlines. It also says that emergency services may provide very limited help after an accident and that ambulances are unreliable. Our Zimbabwe plan page offers data before you arrive.
Networks our Zimbabwe plans use
These are the operators named on our plans for Zimbabwe, taken from the plan data, so the list follows the catalogue.
- Econet4G