# Zimbabwe travel eSIM guide > Zimbabwe mobile guide: NetOne's free Tourist SIM and eSIM with passport registration, Econet's eSIM steps, an unreliable network, blackouts, photography rules and the 112 emergency number. Page: https://esimnest.com/zimbabwe/guide/ Zimbabwe has two operators a visitor is likely to meet, NetOne and Econet, and NetOne is the one that publishes a product built for tourists: a free Tourist SIM, sold as a physical card or an eSIM, with bundles priced in US dollars. Econet describes its own eSIM and says it was first in the country with 5G. Against that, the UK Foreign Office calls the Zimbabwean mobile and landline networks unreliable, warns of long power blackouts and sets out firm rules on photography. This guide uses the operators' pages and the Foreign Office, and flags a mismatch we found in NetOne's own validity wording. By eSimNest Team. Facts last checked 2026-10-02 against the sources listed at the end. ## 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. Emergency calls: Many travel eSIMs carry data only, and a data-only profile may not place a normal phone call. Keep a voice-capable SIM for emergencies, such as your home SIM or a local plan, and save the local emergency number from this guide. Plans and current prices for Zimbabwe: [eSIM for Zimbabwe](https://esimnest.com/zimbabwe/). ## Questions ### Is there a SIM made for tourists in Zimbabwe? NetOne's Tourist SIM page describes one, free for visitors with a valid passport, available as a physical SIM or an eSIM. ### How much do the NetOne tourist bundles cost? At the time of checking, $5 for 3 GB, $10 for 7 GB, $20 for 15 GB and $40 for 30 GB, with validity wording that is inconsistent on the page. ### Do I need my passport to buy a SIM? NetOne's page says the original, valid passport must be registered before the SIM is handed over. ### Does Econet offer an eSIM? Its page describes scanning a QR code and registering the ICCID, but does not say whether visitors can buy one. ### Is the phone network reliable? The UK Foreign Office says the mobile network and landlines are unreliable, with frequent blackouts. ### Can I photograph airports and police? The UK Foreign Office says it is illegal to photograph airports, government offices, police and armed forces without permission. ### What is the emergency number? The UK Foreign Office gives 112 generally, 114 for NetOne subscribers and 0800 3222 911 from a landline. ## Sources - [NetOne: Tourist SIM card](https://www.netone.co.zw/tourist-sim-card) - [Econet Wireless Zimbabwe: eSIM](https://www.econet.co.zw/esim/) - [Econet Wireless Zimbabwe: frequently asked questions](https://www.econet.co.zw/faqs-econet/) - [Econet Wireless Zimbabwe: 5G](https://www.econet.co.zw/5g/) - [GOV.UK: Zimbabwe safety and security](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/zimbabwe/safety-and-security) - [GOV.UK: Zimbabwe entry requirements](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/zimbabwe/entry-requirements) - [GOV.UK: Zimbabwe getting help](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/zimbabwe/getting-help)