Overview

In recent years, food production in Zimbabwe has been devastated by a number of factors including natural hazards and economic and political instability. Recurrent drought, a series of poor harvests, high unemployment (estimated at more than 60%), restructuring of the agriculture sector and a high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate – at 14.7%, the fifth highest in the world - have all contributed to increasing levels of vulnerability and acute food insecurity since 2001. This situation has necessitated large-scale humanitarian food relief operations in the country.

The 2020 Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC) rural livelihoods assessment showed the impact  the drought is having on acute and chronic malnutrition in the country. Rural food insecurity during the peak hunger period from January to March 2020 is projected to reach 56 percent or 5.4 million people which is the highest rural food insecurity prevalence since 2009.

The economy is currently faced with a diverse range of macro-economic and financial challenges, which include low economic growth. Growth in 2020 is now anticipated at be 4.6% Depressed international commodity prices; Liquidity constraints and cash shortages in part due to deteriorating trade balance arising from low export receipts, high levels of imports and low levels of foreign direct investment.

The adverse macro-economic environment has also been characterised by leakages of foreign currency through externalization, underpricing of exports, mineral smuggling and other illicit flows. Hyperinflation of local commodities is occurring due to a shortage of RTGS/Zimbabwe bonds. Trade in USD is no longer permitted in the country and electronic currency has been developed in an attempt to address the cash shortages. This however has seen increased activity in the black market.

Zimbabwe is a low-income, food-deficit country and is ranked 1502 out of 189 countries according to the  2013 UNDP Human Development Index. Currently, 72% of the population live below the national poverty line (less than US $1.25 per day). Some 30% of the rural poor are considered to be ‘food poor’ or ‘extremely poor.’ Although the prevalence of HIV has been reduced, it still remains high with nearly 15 percent of adults living with HIV – many of whom also suffer from malnutrition due to food insecurity.

Drier than average conditions have affected parts of southern Zimbabwe. The delayed onset of the season combined with a poor mid-season rainfall pattern at critical stages of maize development, have led to unfavourable expectations for regional maize production. The Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC), led by the Government with support various partners and WFP, recently published the 2016 Rural Livelihoods Assessment report. According to the report, some 1.5 million people - 16 percent of the rural population - will have insufficient means to meet their minimum food needs during the 2016-17 lean season, that period prior to the next harvest when domestic food stocks tend to become depleted. This represents a 164 per cent increase on the numbers of food insecure people during 2013-14 though it is only a little above the five-year average for Zimbabwe. 

Despite this decrease, food and nutrition security remains fragile and subject to natural and economic shocks in Zimbabwe, with chronic and persistent rates of undernourishment. One third of Zimbabwe’s children are stunted, or short for their age. The country continues to face economic stress which has implications on food security, especially for vulnerable groups in rural areas. Due to deflation/disinflation, household incomes remain low and liquidity challenges affect the demand for goods and services, especially for poor households. Barter is a common form of exchange during lean periods. Where grain is used for such transactions, household food stocks tend to get exhausted at a faster rate. Meanwhile, rural poverty has increased from 63 percent in 2003 to 76 percent in 2014. Most households in the rural areas are net food buyers: they do not (for a number of reasons) produce enough food to meet their needs through to the next harvest season. Consequently, they rely on markets and other non-farm sources such as casual labour to bridge the food gap to the next season. As such, a number of people in rural areas will struggle to meet their daily food needs.

For more detailed database on disasters by country, please see the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters.

Calamities and Seasonal Affects

Zimbabwe enjoys a temperate climate during the dry season. The cooler, drier months (May to October) are characterized by warm sunny days and cold clear nights. It never snows, though overnight frosts and freezing temperatures are not uncommon. The low veld and the Zambezi Valley experience hotter and more humid temperatures, but in the winter there is very little rainfall. Most of Zimbabwe’s rain falls in brief afternoon deluges and electrical storms in the relatively humid and warmer months from November to April. Zimbabwe has the second highest incidence of lightning strikes in the world. Although Zimbabwe lies wholly within the Tropics, the normal tropical continental climate is considerably modified by altitude, especially on the central plateau where temperatures are lower than at sea level in the same latitude. The Eastern Highlands experience the lowest temperatures.

The year falls roughly into three seasons: a dry winter, covering the months from April to August, with cool temperatures especially at night when frost is sometimes experienced; a hot season with temperatures building up to a maximum in October or early November and a wet season in which the main rains usually come around mid-November and continue until March. The main rains are associated with the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). The ITCZ, where the northerly and southerly air masses meet, follows the seasonal movements of the overhead sun north and south of the Equator, hence the occurrence of the Zimbabwean wet season during the southern summer. June is the coolest month and October is the warmest: temperature variations correspond with height. Typically you cannot tell if there will be an El Nino until the last month of December or first week in January.

The seasonal effects on transport are minimal in Zimbabwe. During heavy downpours secondary roads can become locally impracticable for a short period of time. Transport can temporarily be disrupted in the path of a cyclone or a tropical storm (January / February). Some bridges were devastated in Manicaland as a result of the El Nino (1998) and Eline (2000) cyclones. Cyclone Idai (2019) destroyed bridges in  But otherwise transport operations inside and outside Zimbabwe are not greatly affected by the seasons. Severe rains may disrupt the road transport operations along the Beira corridor (Pungwe Riverand Pungwe Plains). Long and heavy rains in Mozambique also affect the Limpopo railway line. Roads and railways normally get busier during harvest time, where there is an increase of traffic and heavy vehicles on the roads, but because of the current economic situation and the low crop it is not foreseeable to see congestions on the roads.

It is to be taken into consideration, though, that the decrease in the number of vehicles available as a consequence of the economic crisis might in the long run become a problem when contracting transporters. In fact, at the moment, considerable portions of transporters’ fleets are idle because of lack of business or difficulties in procuring fuel, which in the long run might force them to reduce the number of vehicles and therefore impact availability of trucks, with obvious impacts on transport costs as well.

 
Warehouses are affected by difficult weather conditions: very high temperatures in Beitbridge and heavy rains in Mutare. The upkeep and maintenance are the primary reason for the warehousing problems. Measures are in place to mitigate any risks, but it is recommended to try and avoid stocking commodities in adverse conditions for too long.

Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response

Government

The Zimbabwe Department of Civil Protection is the lead agency for government efforts to manage disaster risk in all the spheres of government. In its effort, the Government of Zimbabwe is working in collaboration with the humanitarian community in-country. The overall objective of the Inter-Agency Contingency Plan is to support the Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) in mounting a timely and coordinated preparedness and response to identified hazards in order to minimize potential humanitarian consequences. The Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) champions disaster and emergency preparedness and response and the humanitarian community complements government efforts. There is a Disaster Management Act in place and legislatively stipulates authority and powers for the declaration of emergency or state of disaster. NGO’s can be co-opted depending on the services they offer and the priority of the humanitarian issue.

Governments and humanitarian organisations have invested time and financial resources in contingency planning but the challenge has been in establishing conclusive evidence of the relation between contingency planning and effective response. In its fulfilment of the primary role of protecting its citizens’ lives during disasters, Government through the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Planning’s Department of Civil Protection (DCP), Government ministries, UN Agencies and various Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), developed a National Contingency Plan that is updated annually to reflect the evolving hazard profile of the country. This plan is part of an important disaster preparedness process which allows Government and its partners to plan for disasters with the aim of minimizing damage to property and loss of life.

Zimbabwe has capacities which include the availability of legal frame works and instruments. Of note is the reform of the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) framework guided by the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015. Another notable capacity is the existence of a functional national platform with a wide cross sectional representation from Government, UN agencies as well as local and international NGOs. This is complemented by relatively functional Civil Protection Committees both at Provincial and District levels. The National Platform, in form of the National Civil Protection Committee meets regularly to create consensus on issues that require intervention. In addition, there is a dedicated Government department, the Department of Civil Protection under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, which has the overall responsibility of disaster risk management. Partners such as the UN System and NGOs (local and international) have been providing emergency preparedness and response (EPR), assessments and early recovery assistance to the Government of Zimbabwe.

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Zimbabwe Government Contact List

Humanitarian Community

The political and economical situation in Zimbabwe stabilized compared to most of 2008. The introduction of a multi-currency system practically led to a halt in inflation, although this has not yet substantially improved the standard of living of most Zimbabweans. Political violence, which characterized much of 2008, has largely come to a halt, while a process of national healing and reconciliation has started. Humanitarian organisations and NGOs have more space to operate and bans were lifted.

OCHA re-established its presence in Zimbabwe for the 2019 Cyclone Idai response in which the IASC cluster system was activated, and extending out to the food security situation in 2020. The government's capacity to react to emergencies is limited. The cluster strategy has worked very effectively albeit with tense government relations. The main GoZ departments involved within the cluster set up are Ministry of Health and Child Care, and Ministry of Regional Integration and International Co-operation. The principle of last resort has allowed those leading each cluster to come together when the planned pipeline of aid cannot meet the demands of those affected hence the need for a functional, predictable and coordinated response. The government has articulated the disaster coordination structure, which is headed by the Inter-Ministerial committee, the Committee of Permanent Secretaries (DYNAMO) and the Department of the Civil Protection. At the bottom of the hierarchy are the technical committees, depending on the nature of the emergency at hand, including the finance and logistics committees. On the humanitarian side, the HC/RC will propose the activation of this plan in consultation with the IASC and the Government of Zimbabwe’s Inter-Ministerial Committee.

The Emergency Response Fund for Zimbabwe was established as a pooled fund in 2006. It was initially set up to meet the emergency needs of people affected by displacement but has continued to be replenished by donors thereby facilitating response to emerging response requirements in the country. Being a pooled fund of un-earmarked contributions from various donors, the ERF operates with greater flexibility and speedier approval processes than traditional funding mechanisms. The guiding principles of the fund is to allow timely emergency and/or gap filling responses through consultative and collaborative approval processes by the representatives of key stakeholders from UN agencies and local and international NGOs participating in the Advisory Board. The Advisory Board is chaired by the UN Humanitarian Coordinator. Members are drawn from two UN Agencies, IOM and two NGO (national and international representatives). OCHA Zimbabwe provides secretariat support to the management of the fund while clusters are consulted for technical inputs.

Soon after the signing of the 15 September 2008 Global Political Agreement (GPA) that paved the way for the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU) the ERF was used to provide short term funds in five key sectors; WASH, health, education, protection and agriculture. This was to give implementing agencies an opportunity to kick-start or intensify some humanitarian activities as they fundraised for more resources. Implementation period for projects is limited up to a maximum of 6 months and the funding can be made up to US $250,000 per project. Each implementing agency can have up to three active projects at a time. The applicant agencies are encouraged to consult relevant partners in the cluster/working group, geographical areas and local communities during development of the intervention. For the final round of consultation, the Advisory Board is normally given 48 hours to make a recommendation to the Humanitarian Coordinator. Once the approval process is completed, an agreement is entered between the implementing partner and the Humanitarian Coordinator, after which OCHA requests for the funds to be released directly to the implementing agency from the Geneva based account.

Structures Presently in place:

• Operational Governmental decentralized structures under the Ministry of Local Government and Urban Development (MLGUD) ensures the liaison between local and national authorities, NGOs and the United Nations.
• The Information/Communication Committee formed and chaired by the GoZ and the HC being supported by OCHA and composed of information officers from the various GoZ, UN/NGOs agencies will be convened. The group will provide guidelines to the press as well as to the designated spokespersons.
• The UNCT is chaired by the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and brings all UN agency heads together for discussion and decision making.
• The SMT is regularly considering security issues and meets under the chairmanship of the Designated Official with participation from all UN agencies.
• The local level IASC meeting consists of all UN agencies, NGO representation, IOM, IFRC and meets monthly under the chairmanship of the Humanitarian Coordinator / HC
• Chairs of Sector Working Groups meet bimonthly to inform on progress made vis-à-vis their terms of reference and to discuss cross-cutting issues, bottle necks and opportunities. Forward plans are shared and approaches are harmonized among different groups.
• Donor consultative meetings are held on a monthly basis to discuss current activities, plans, resource needs and implementation levels of projects and programmes. The Humanitarian Coordinator chairs the meetings.
• NGO consultative meetings are held on a quarterly basis under the chairmanship of the Humanitarian Coordinator. Issues that are of relevance to the NGOs are discussed there.
• The Crisis committee: Has been established by the IASC and is being convened by OCHA Zimbabwe. The members are IOM, UNICEF, OCHA, UNHCR, WFP, UNDP, FAO.
• The Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG) originally for the Cyclone Idai response is still meeting weekly to address the lean season food shortage situation.

For more information on humanitarian coordination and emergency scenarios in Zimbabwe, please see the following attachment: Humanitarian Coordination and Scenarios and Planning Assumptions

For more information on humanitarian contact details, please see the following link: 4.2 Zimbabwe Humanitarian Agency Contact List.

Overview

There are several governmental organisations empowered with regulatory activities that guide the conduct and activities of all entities in Zimbabwe. For purposes of the LCA, the regulatory organisations highlighted herein are those that are in line with humanitarian activities and their mandates range in line with their sectors / industries. Such regulatory bodies include customs & tax revenue, civil protection department, control & quality assurance, food quality, shipment inspections, regional organisations such as trade agreements to be adhered to and many more as listed in the attached document:  Additional Zimbabwe Regulatory Departments Information.

Governments and humanitarian organisations have invested time and financial resources in contingency planning but the challenge has been in establishing conclusive evidence of the relation between contingency planning and effective response. In its fulfilment of the primary role of protecting its citizens’ life during disasters, Government through the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Planning’s Department of Civil Protection (DCP), Government ministries, UN Agencies and various Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), developed a National Contingency Plan that is updated annually to reflect the evolving hazard profile of the country. This plan is part of an important disaster preparedness process which allows Government and its partners to plan for disasters with the aim of minimizing damage to property and loss of life.

Zimbabwe has capacities which include the availability of legal frame works and instruments. Of note is the reform of the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) framework guided by the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015. Another notable capacity is the existence of a functional national platform with a wide cross-sectional representation from Government, UN agencies as well as local and international NGOs. This is complemented by relatively functional Civil Protection Committees both at Provincial and District levels. The National Platform, in form of the National Civil Protection Committee meets regularly to create consensus on issues that require intervention. In addition, there is a dedicated Government department, the Department of Civil Protection under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, which has the overall responsibility of disaster risk management. Partners such as the UN System and NGOs (local and international) have been providing emergency preparedness and response (EPR), assessments and early recovery assistance to the Government of Zimbabwe.

Food Quality Monitoring

Food control is even more important for Zimbabwe with an agro-based economy providing livelihood for over 70% of the population. WHO, FAO and WTO have produced guidelines and recommendations for strengthening national food control systems. The major components of a food control system, 

1. Policy, planning, legislation and standards settings,
2. Inspection/monitoring and surveillance,
3. Scientific testing and analysis,
4. Compliance and intervention, must be connected, work as one holistic system with all its operations based on sound scientific information.

The monitoring and surveillance through inspections/sampling programmes remain under various ministries’ departments and agencies. The major players are ministries of 1. Health, 2. Agriculture, 3. Industry and Trade, and 4. Local Governments 5. The Standards Association of Zimbabwe.

The Ministry of Health and Child Welfare is the overall regulatory agency through the Environmental Health Officers at Provincial, District and Ward levels. They carry out inspections and sampling activities responding to any food safety challenges and out-breaks. They are the vigilante’s checking on adherences to legislation. This involves monitoring of food at retail outlets, abattoirs in their areas. They can, if necessary confiscate or destroy unsafe food as required by legislation. The Ministry’s environmental health officers are responsible for ensuring that all food items imported into the country meet the safety standards and regulations at ports of entry.

The Ministry Responsible for Agriculture is charged with food safety from the farming processes to harvesting. In the case where food is consumed after harvest without any further processing, this Ministry ensures that it is safe for consumption as it is, or after cooking. For food needing further processing, however, safety concerns end at delivery to the processors/manufacturers etc. The Ministry is responsible for crop and meat safety from farming. The Agricultural Research and Extension Services (AREX) deals with safety of crops while the Veterinary Services Department (VSD) deals with safety of animal products i.e. meat, poultry, fish and milk. This department, through its meat hygiene units, inspects and certifies abattoirs.

The Ministry Responsible for Industry and Trade deals with food exports/imports and food trade in general through their food and beverage section. It issues import/export licenses and generally promotes food trade. It is responsible for trade measures and voluntary standards through the Standards Association of Zimbabwe. The Ministry bases its certification processes for exports etc. on laboratory evaluation and analysis of products. Some Local Authorities such as Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare, Gweru and Masvingo have their own inspection systems. Under the Food and Food Standards Act, they are delegated authority to be food inspectors. Besides enforcing the national food standards, they have by-laws for their areas of operation, which must not conflict with the national laws. The Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) has a standards certification system for its members.  SAZ monitors its members through inspections and audits. Some private food concerns have quality control programmes, which involve self-monitoring.

Scientific Testing and Analysis

The Government Analyst Laboratory is the main Ministry of Health food control testing and analysis facility.  It analyses samples submitted by the Ministry’s Environmental Health Officers nationwide as well as from other government departments, local authorities and private sector. Public health laboratories at various hospitals particularly with regards to microbiological analysis complement the Government Analyst services. In addition, certain Local Authorities such as Harare, Bulawayo, Masvingo, have laboratory facilities capable of some analytical services. Under the Ministry responsible for Agriculture there are the Research and Specialist Service Laboratory and the Veterinary Services Laboratory with complementary services provided by the Dairy Services Laboratory. Non-governmental institution that provide food analysis include SAZ (quite extensive capacity), Kutsaga Tobacco Research and private concerns Laboratories.

Compliance and Interventions

 Each of the regulatory service agencies provide the compliance and intervention administration programmes. These act as ‘mini – food control’ systems.  In the Ministry of Health and CW this is done primarily by the Provincial Medical Directors’ office involving the concerned districts (and port Health if applicable) and the Government Analyst Laboratory. The Disease Control Unit is involved in all cases of national interventions to crises. Ordinarily the PMD’s environmental health officers with the support of GA are sufficient. In the Ministry responsible for Agriculture, the administration of compliance and intervention programmes are under AREX or the Veterinary Services depending on whether it is plant or animal related. It should be noted that there are in fact several ‘food regulatory systems’ i.e. 8 in the Ministry of Health, 16 Ministry of Agriculture, and more than 4 local authorities. These in practice act as independent entities except when there is a national challenge. There are no clear ties between the various administrative structures and their operations. 

For more information on standards and regulatory bodies, please see the following attachment: Additional Zimbabwe Regulatory Departments Information.

For more information on contact details, please see the following links:

4.1 Zimbabwe Government Contact List

Zimbabwe ASTI Data

Zimbabwe University of Minnesota Information

Duties and Tax Exemption

For contact information regarding government custom authorities, please see the following link: 4.1 Zimbabwe Government Contact List

Emergency Response

[Note: This section contains information which is related and applicable to 'crisis' times. These instruments can be applied when an emergency is officially declared by the Government.  When this occurs, there is usually a streamlined process to import goods duty and tax free.]

Exemption Regular Regime (Non-Emergency Response)

[Note: This section should contain information on the usual duties & taxes exemption regime during non-emergency times, when there is no declared state of emergency and no streamlines process (e.g. regular importations/development/etc.).]

• ZIMRA (Zimbabwe Revenue Authority) is a department within the Ministry of Finance.
• ZIMRA uses the automated ASYCUDA ++ computerised tariffing system which is in line with the International harmonised tariff system.
• Humanitarian Aid is covered under section 122 of the general Customs and excise regulations.
• This act can be purchased on CD from ZX net. Contact details: 263-4-751921 / 753334 or from Government printers.
• Please see the ZIMRA Asycuda manual

Exemption Certificate Application Procedure

Exemption Certificate Document Requirements

Customs Clearance

General Information 

Customs Clearance Document Requirements

For information on Customs Clearing Companies, please see 4.11 Zimbabwe Additional Service Providers Contact List.

Transit Regime

The movement of goods in transit is carried out when cargo is either required to move in bond to a specified bonded store within the country importing the product, or if the cargo is destined for another country whereby the product has to cross numerous borders / countries to reach the final destination. (i.e. product sourced in South Africa but destined for Zambia).The first instance of cargo being bonded does not affect aid organisations as generally aid cargo is exempt from duty & taxes. Moving such cargo in bond would be ineffective and would only incur further clearing & warehousing costs. The second scenario of cargo having to move through numerous countries to reach destination would again not effect aid agencies as generally the forwarder or transporters will incur the risk & cost of engaging a clearing agent to arrange the transit movement from entry border to exit border. These costs would be included in the transporters / Forwarder freight costs. The transit procedure is normally carried out by a registered clearing agent who has a bond facility to carry the value of the expected duties to be paid should the goods be cleared normally for consumption in the country being transited. WFP Zimbabwe offices opt for direct imports into its warehouses.

Border Control

https://www.zimra.co.zw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1207&Itemid=145

• Beitbridge –Harare
• Beitbridge –Bulawayo
• Beitbridge – Mutare
• Mutare –Harare
• Plumtree –Bulawayo
• Plumtree –Harare
• Chirundu –Harare
• Harare – Nyamapanda

For more information on Weight and Value Bands, Focal Points and Entry Points, please see the following attachment: Additional Zimbabwe Customs Information.

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country and does not have any ports. For information on ports that may be used to bring goods to Zimbabwe, please see the following links:

2.1.1 South Africa Port of Durban

2.1.1 Mozambique Port of Beira

In 1999, the Government of Zimbabwe established the Supervising authority Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) through the Civil Aviation Act of 1998. The CAAZ is the main provider of civil aviation services, serving as the regulator of the industry, managing the civil aviation infrastructure, including the main airports, and providing airspace management services.

The CAAZ owns and manages eleven airports in Zimbabwe. The original design capacity of the various terminals was sufficient for up to 3.8 million passengers a year. Harare is the main hub, but its operations and that of the other major airports have been affected by the poor performance of the economy. Civil aviation infrastructure in Zimbabwe is in need of rehabilitation and regular maintenance. A particular concern is air traffic control and safety, as equipment is old and in need of replacement. Closely related to traffic surveillance is the capability for aircraft communication to and from the ground.

The entire airspace of Zimbabwe has not been covered by existing facilities, and what does exist is deficient. The airspace surveillance equipment is not well maintained, and while repairs have been carried out at Harare, work on the system at Joshua Nkomo International Airport (Bulawayo) is incomplete. Shortcomings in surveillance also raise concerns about search and rescue operations. Weather installations are inadequate and broadband infrastructure is not available at most airports.

As a result of the economic problems of the past decade and sharp decline in tourism activity in Zimbabwe, international and domestic aircraft movements have declined sharply. The former declined from about 31,000 in 1999 to about 16,000 in 2009. The decline in domestic movements was even greater, owing to the decline in domestic travel by tourists and the adverse effect of the domestic economic difficulties. The large contraction in demand for air services to and from Zimbabwe has contributed to a sharp reduction in the number of international airlines that service the Zimbabwe market.

During 1997-2007 more than twenty scheduled airlines discontinued services in Zimbabwe, including major carriers such as Air France (1997), KLM (1998), Lufthansa (2000), Swiss Air (2000), and British Airways (2007). At present, 13 airlines operate services to and from Zimbabwe. These include Air Zimbabwe, which is the primary domestic carrier owned by the Government, Kenya Airways, Air Malawi, Botswana Airline, South African Airways, South African Airlink, Comair (which is a franchise partner with British Airways), Air Namibia, Emirates, Egyptian, Zambezi Airline, Ethiopian Airlines, Angola Airlines and Fly Africa (budget airline). There are 130 airports (or 196 per the CIA) in Zimbabwe, a combination of paved and unpaved runways. 

All aircrafts carrying cargo must land only at designated airports. Air freight will be cleared at the airport of first landing in Zimbabwe provided such airport is a designated customs airport. If the airport of destination is not a designated airport, the aircraft operator must take special arrangements for clearance of the freight before flying to the destination.

The dropping or spraying of objects or other substances out of or from the aircraft is prohibited. This does not apply to ballast in the form of water or fine sand, fuel tow ropes, tow banners or similar objects if dropped or discharged at places where no danger to persons or property exist. The authority may grant exemption to the introduction if no danger to persons or property exists.

In accordance with article 19 of the International Sanitary regulations adopted by the World Health Organisation, the following are designed sanitary airports:

• Harare/Harare Airport
• Bulawayo/Joshua Mquabuko Nkomo Airport

Key airport information may also be found at World Aero Data. 

Private aircraft operating into an airport in Zimbabwe and carrying seven passengers and below do not require prior permission but should submit normal ATC flight plan only. Private aircraft wishing to over fly Zimbabwean airspace are however are required to have prior permission and must submit an application to the CAAZ.

The authority establishes prohibited areas and restricted areas, if necessary, for the prevention of danger to public safety or order especially for the safety of air traffic. These areas are published in the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)

At minor aerodromes without ATC, inspections are often irregular, and pivots must, in addition to obtaining the latest serviceability, examine the landing area from the air before attempting to land. Generally, no facilities are provided.

For airport contact information, please see the following links:

4.1 Zimbabwe Government Contact List

4.5 Zimbabwe Airport Company Contact List

Procedures for Foreign Registered Aircraft

An operator intending to over fly Zimbabwe must apply in writing to Nigel Marumahoko at the Civil Aviation Authority on Fax number: +263(04)585100 during working hours or +263(04)575163 during weekends and holidays. Once this has been approved then further information will be issued in order to complete registration.

In Zimbabwe, the following requirements need to be applied, presented and approved before pre-positioning of foreign registered aircraft:

• Aircraft registration
•  Aircraft type and MAUW
•  Operator's full name and address
•  Point of departures, destinations, and further itineraries
•  Route, entry and exit points
•  Return phone, fax numbers and email
•  Number of passengers and intended cargo loads
•  Exact purpose of flights

Registration and Safety: Registration will take place once the application has been approved

Operator, aircraft and crew documentation: Any documentation not submitted in the application procedure will be noted and requested of the operator once the application has been completed and approved.

The Authority will inform the applicant, by return fax, of the calculated costs of the intended operations. Payment must be made by means of a bank transfer of the required amount into the authority’s FCA account. Processing is almost immediate and may take up to a week if there are any irregularities.

For information on required fees, please see the following attachment: Zimbabwe Aviation Fees 

Road transport is the dominant means of transport in Zimbabwe. Most of the traffic and trade (80% by volume) is transported by road. More than 70% of Zimbabwe regional trunk roads and primary roads were built in the 1960's and early 70's and most of them have exceeded their 20 year design life. Lack of financial resources to reconstruct or rehabilitate the aging road network and the unavailability of good quality gravel is compounding the problem.

Zimbabwean roads are managed, maintained and operated by the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA). ZINARA is responsible for managing the Road Fund and disbursing to the following road authorities: Department of Roads in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development, responsible for trunk roads; Rural District and Urban Councils, responsible for urban roads; and the District Development Fund, responsible for rural roads. The country's national highways are currently undergoing dualisation albeit at a slow pace due to funding constraints. Large requirements in support of road maintenance have necessitated the introduction of toll gate fees to complement the limited national budget resources. The introduction of toll fees has provided additional resources for the maintenance and rehabilitation of the Zimbabwean road network. Paved roads link the major urban and industrial centres, but the condition of urban roads and the unpaved rural road network has deteriorated significantly over the years for lack of maintenance.

The country has a lot of haulage trucks that are readily available for lease and use by UN, NGOs, the private sector as well as government. WFP and partners have databases for such service providers. Seasonal demands and supply variations have little effects on the transport rates. Fuel price hike has a knock on effect on the transport charges.

For contact information for the relevant government authorities, please see the following link: 4.1 Zimbabwe Government Contact List.

For more information on the Zimbabwe road network, please see the following attachment: Additional Zimbabwe Road Network Information

Distance Matrix

Travel Time Matrix

Road Security

The road security in Zimbabwe is classified as Good. 

Weighbridges and Axle Load Limits

Weighbridges can be found across the country but those that affect road transport can be found at each border crossing. Here the V.I.D. will inspect trucks and those they assess to be overweight are weight at their respective depots.

Road Class and Surface Conditions

Road Classifications

By Use there are four classes of roads:

• Regional Trunk Road Network-Provides vital links to provincial capitals and connects Zimbabwe to its neighbouring countries
• Primary Road-Provides links to urban centres and provincial centres
• Secondary Road-Provides link between service centre, growth points and primary roads
• Feeder Road-These are inter-district and provide links to rural service centres

Total road lengths in Zimbabwe come to 97,267 km. Paved roads make up 18,481 km (20.4% surfaced, 14% gravel), and unpaved roads amount to 78,786 km (65.6% earth roads). The following table shows distribution of roads by authority:

There are 88,100 km of classified roads in Zimbabwe, 17,400 km of which are paved. About 5% of the network is classified as primary roads and has some of the most trafficked arterials that link Zimbabwe with its neighbours. A portion of the Pan-Africa Highway passes through Zimbabwe. This part of the road network plays a major role in the movement of the country’s imports and exports as well as transit freight.

Some 14% of the network is classified as secondary roads that link the main economic canters within the country, enabling internal movement of people and goods. The primary and secondary roads are collectively referred to as the trunk road system; they carry over 70% of the vehicular traffic (measured in vehicle kilometres) and they are managed by the Department of Roads (DoR). A little more than 70% of the network is made up of tertiary feeder and access roads that link rural areas to the secondary road network. These are managed by the District Development Fund (DDF) and by the District Councils (DC).

The tertiary access roads, together with the unclassified tracks, typically with traffic volumes below 50 vehicles per day, provide for the intra-rural access movements. They link rural communities to social economic amenities, such as schools, health centres, and markets, and enable government services to reach rural areas. The remaining 9% of the network are urban roads managed by urban councils. The road density in Zimbabwe is about 0.23 km per square km. This is high compared with many developing countries; it is comparable to that of the high income, non-OECD countries and lower middle-income countries. Only OECD countries have a substantially higher road density than Zimbabwe.

The implication is that a relatively high proportion of the population has access to the road network of the country. Moreover, Zimbabwe has a very substantial road network relative to its gross domestic product (GDP). The replacement value of the road network asset is estimated at about $10 billion, equivalent to almost three times the current level of GDP. This ratio is high in comparison with many developing countries, and it gives some insight into the current large economic burden of maintaining the road network.

The Department of National Parks and Ministry of Lands have roads within their jurisdiction, but these are considered as private since they are not declared roads.

The Department of Roads design surfaced roads for a 20-year Design Life; however, many roads have outlived their design life. The Department of Roads classifies its roads by surface type, by estimated traffic during its design life and use. By surface type the following classes apply:

The other type of classification is by Estimated Traffic based on Equivalent Standard Axles of  10 tons per axle during the 20-year design life of the road:

Following is a table showing distribution by surface type and respective Province (km):

The Regional Trunk Road Network (RTRN) has a total of 3,174.9 km, of which 2,573.9 km (81%) have outlived the 20 year design life but have maintained a good condition due to spot rehabilitation where necessary. The following table shows trunk road network:  

NB: * implies roads linking provincial capitals.

Bridges

Bridges built within the primary road network are full operational throughout the year. One bridge on the route between Chiredzi and Tanganda Holt crossing the Save River is low enough for water to flood the road in an event of a flash flood. Secondary roads regularly succumb to flooding in the wet months. The Victoria Falls, Birchenough, Otto Beit (Chirundu) and Beit (Beitbridge) bridges have stood the test of time but are closed when there is a need for maintenance. Security is very tight on all bridges by both the host country i.e. Zimbabwe and the neighbouring nations.

Transport Corridors

Transport corridors correspond to the international corridors as described below.

• Beitbridge –Harare
• Beitbridge –Bulawayo
• Beitbridge – Mutare
• Mutare –Harare
• Plumtree –Bulawayo
• Plumtree –Harare
• Chirundu –Harare
• Harare – Nyamapanda

The rail system was built in the early 1900’s (part of it represents a segment of the Cape-Cairo railway) and has not been revamped since. As a result of 100 years of use, a number of sections are deteriorating with the track cracking and the foundations sagging. Lack of maintenance has led to faulty points resulting in numerous derailments.  The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) employed 17,000 staff in the late 1980’s, but today only 4-6000 employees are on hand. Vandalism has paralyzed the communications systems and only shunting is possible with the electric locomotives in urban areas – two-way radios are used to facilitate train movements between towns. The geographical spread of the network makes it almost impossible to adequately protect and guard. Four million running tons is possible with the current capacity but this is yet to be proven.

The NRZ is the parastatal railway of Zimbabwe. NRZ operates about 3,000 km of rail at the 1.067 m gauge providing passenger and freight services. NRZ has an important transit function in the southern part of Africa and is well linked with neighbouring countries: toward the north, at Victoria Falls, the system links to the Zambia Railways, crossing the Victoria Falls Bridge. Towards the Indian Ocean, the system links to the Beira Railroad Corporation in Mozambique. A second line towards Mozambique reaches Maputo. To the west, a connecting line link ups to Botswana Railways to reach South Africa, eventually reaching Durban and Cape Town. A direct line to South Africa is provided from Bulawayo by the Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway. The electrified (25kV AC) 313 km Gweru-Harare section has been seriously vandalized and the electric trains have since stopped operating.

The rail sector in Zimbabwe is in dire need of recapitalisation as the wagons, locomotives, tracks and signalling systems are all antiquated and in need of replacement. The NRZ has also suffered of the general decline of the country's economy. Neglect of maintenance, lacking spare parts and overdue replacement of equipment have led to a situation where only part of the railroad net is in good condition and equipment problems have led to reduced service. Goods transport has declined, from 4 million tonnes in 2015 to 2.5 million tonnes in 2018.

The NRZ network is divided in three operational regions:

• Eastern Region: Mutare – Harare - Chinhoyi axis, with a branch line to Bindura/ Shamva
• Midlands Region: Somabhula – Harare with branch line to Masvingo and Redcliff
• Southern Region: Beitbridge – Rutenga – Dabuka and Chicualacuala – Rutenga; Dabuka – Mpopoma – Victoria Falls

For contact information, please see the following links:  4.1 Zimbabwe Government Contact List

For more information on the Zimbabwe railway network, please see the following attachment: Additional Zimbabwe Railway Information

Travel Time Matrix

Capacity Table

Key Route Information

Key Stations

There are no major water transport facilities of any significance available in Zimbabwe. There is a small ferry passenger service on Lake Kariba plying between Mlibizi and Kariba which is used mainly for recreational activities. 

For contact information, please see the following link: 4.1 Zimbabwe Government Contact List

Company Information

There is no waterway transport for cargo available in Zimbabwe.

Port Information

Binga and Kariba are the only ports in Zimbabwe. However, there is nothing of logistical importance at these ports. 

Zimbabwe has a sensitive political and economic climate. However, the country has functional and effective logistics systems in the field of transport and logistics, dedicated to serving both the commercial sector as well as international humanitarian organizations. A wide range of logistics services and solutions, from the storage of general merchandise to leading-edge solutions for the supply chain, are found in all major towns and cities, which include:

• Specialized handling equipment
• Computerized warehouse management
• Q-HSE policy
• Advanced receiving and inspection processes
• Secured storage
• Inventory control
• Value-added services (repacking, co-packing, labelling, etc.)
• Order preparation
• Cross-docking

For contact information for the storage companies, please see the following link: 4.6 Zimbabwe Storage and Milling Company Contact List

For more information on Zimbabwe storage, please see the following attachment: Additional Zimbabwe Storage Information 

Commercial Storage

[1] Warehouse Type: Open storage, container, rub-hall, silo, concrete, other, unspecified

[2] Warehouse Access: Raised-siding, flat

[3] Warehouse condition: Appears intact, appears damaged, under construction/repair

Storage Used by Humanitarian Organizations

Major humanitarian organizations in Zimbabwe (UN and local and international NGOs) lease or hire out warehouses from commercial service providers. This is a standard practice in Zimbabwe for both humanitarian and commercial actors in the country. Adequacy, accessibility, and availability of ancillary services is not a challenge in Zimbabwe, especially if the warehouse is located in a town or city. Use of mobile storage facilities is also common among the humanitarian organisations operating in Zimbabwe. Collaboration and space sharing is common with humanitarian actors and this has seen savings being realised by organisations engaging such collaborations.

The WFP Zimbabwe operation has 4 operational warehouses and several extended delivery points run by NGOs in partnership with WFP. The warehouses are strategically located to service the most insecure and needy parts of the country. These warehouses are located in Harare, Bulawayo Mutare and Masvingo. 

[1] Warehouse Type: Open storage, container, rub-hall, silo, concrete, other, unspecified

[2] Warehouse Access: Raised-siding, flat

[3] Warehouse condition: Appears intact, appears damaged, under construction/repair

Public Sector Storage

The Department of Civil Protection (DCP) has a staff complement of seven officers at the Head Office. The operations of the Civil Protection Organization are multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary in scope. Their mission is to coordinate and promote strategic planning for emergencies at the individual, community, sectoral, local authority and national levels through regulatory mechanisms in order to provide for and ensure optimal emergency preparedness and disaster prevention in Zimbabwe. The mandate of the DCP covers overall coordination of all stakeholders involved in disaster risk management, promotes preparedness planning, prompts emergency response, early recovery and rehabilitation of affected elements and advocates for integration of disaster risk reduction into development for sustainability.

The core functions of ensuring the attainment of optimal capacity for disaster risk management include:

• Develop and maintain a disaster risk management framework in line with international best practice
• To strengthen coping capacities of the general public in relation to the country’s risk profile
• To develop mechanisms to address the identified gaps in the above functions

[1] Warehouse Type: Open storage, container, rub-hall, silo, concrete, other, unspecified

[2] Warehouse Access: Raised-siding, flat

[3] Warehouse condition: Appears intact, appears damaged, under construction/repair

For more information, please see the Civil Protection Directorate of Zimbabwe website. 

Cold Chain

The cold chain is comprised mainly of private companies.

[1] Cold Room Positive, Cold Room Negative, Refrigerator, Freezer,

[2] Compression, Absorption, Solar, Other, unspecified

For more information on Zimbabwe storage, please see the following attachment: Additional Zimbabwe Storage Information

Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.

Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider.

The milling capacity of the country is commendable. There are several players in the market who are able to handle large amounts of tonnage. The infrastructure for milling is still in place albeit after eleven years of poor maintenance and underutilization. The facilities will need extensive refurbishment should there be an interest in redeveloping this industry. Below is an example of the National Foods infrastructure. 

Milling Company National Foods Ltd  

National Foods have possibly the best and most comprehensive milling related facilities within the country. The network and infrastructure was designed to accommodate the farming capacity and national demand for both storage and milling.

Zimbabwe once faced fuel crises for ten years as a result of economic failures and lack of planning in the fuel sector. Private companies and individuals are able to import product through DFI’s (direct fuel imports). The Government-run companies such as Petro Trade and Petroleum Marketing Company (PMC) regulate imports and direct all supplies through the pipeline in order to maintain a working facility and control product taxes. Currently, fuel is easily accessible at all filing stations across the country. The country has also started blending imported petrol with the locally-produced ethanol, a project that has the potential to assist the local petrol market. 

For contact information, please see the following links: 4.1 Zimbabwe Government Contact List.

For more information about fuel in Zimbabwe, please see the following attachment: Additional Zimbabwe Fuel Information

Fuel Pricing

Seasonal Variations 

The UN, NGOs and development agencies face potential challenges and risks of fuel shortages. However, the UN has put in place contingency measures where fuel can be imported through fuel companies and distributed through Fuel Coupons and Smart Cards with reputable fuel companies. These facilities can be used as a fall-back position in times of crisis. 

Fuel Transportation

Primarily, fuel is transported through a pipeline from Beira port in Mozambique, and by road and rail as well from Beira port and from South Africa. Internal fuel transportation is mainly done by road and a small portion being transported by rail.

Internal transportation of fuel products is carried out in fuel tankers. Many tankers are equipped with either solid chassis hulls or skid tanks on flat beds, but all meet the loading and offloading requirements at source and final destination.

Standards, Quality and Testing

The Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) Laboratories are implementing ISO/IEC 17025 quality management system and are at an advanced stage towards accreditation.  The SAZ auditing and certification management system is accredited by SANAS which is a testimony that we are competent to offer such services. This accreditation was first awarded close to 10 years ago to Guide 62 (General Requirements for Bodies operating Assessment and Certification/Registration of Quality System) and 66 (General Requirements for Bodies operating Assessment and Certification/Registration of Environmental Management Systems). The Quality Assurance Department was awarded international recognition to ISO 17021 for Certification Bodies on 11 September 2008.

There are over three thousand transport companies operating within Zimbabwe. This include commercial transport companies and own-account operators. The operators are registered with the Zimbabwe Road Operators Association, and this is mandatory for all interested transporters. The industry is slowly growing despite the prevailing economic challenges affecting the country. The country is using multicurrency of United States Dollar, bond notes and electronic cash.  

The macro-economy shock has impacted the transporting capacity across Zimbabwe, primarily due to fuel access. Fuel queues can be days long and rationed. Some fuel providers have direct fuel importation and will trade in US dollars. Transport providers with access to USD are able to continue functioning. The transporters are providing their services locally and regionally, depending with their capacities to service these routes. Many of the larger companies have fared well through these times but the smaller ones have struggled with upkeep and maintenance.

Transport requirement for most shippers is seasonal. Most parts of the country require transport services for the movement of tobacco, cotton and maize grain, especially soon after the summer season. In some cases, transporters are engaged by some NGOs, usually during the humanitarian food assistance. Very few transport users require transport services constantly throughout the year, e.g. Mining and Manufacturing. The current capacity is more than enough to meet domestic requirements. Foreign operators can provide transport services, but with specific conditions.

Humanitarian partners have assessed transport providers for contractual purposes for food assistance and emergency relief distribution in flood season. For more information on transport company contact details, please see the following link: 4.8 Zimbabwe Transporter Contact List

Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.

Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider.

Most workers in Zimbabwe are on fixed term contracts. According to labour law, fixed term contracts expire at the end of the term specified. Employment may be terminated by mutual agreement. The law states that if a contract of employment does not specify the date of termination, other than a contract for casual work, seasonal work or for the performance of some specific service, it is deemed to be an indefinite contract. This provision is, however, conditional for casual workers. In accordance with section 20.1 of the Labour Act 2005, the Minister has the authority to specify the minimum wage and benefits for any class of employees in any undertaking or industry. Minimum wages are usually issued for industries not covered by the employment councils. 

In accordance with section 12A of the Labour Act 2005, wages should be paid at regular intervals on working days at or near the workplace. Remuneration payable in money should not be paid to an employee by way of promissory notes, vouchers, coupons, liquor, etc. Remuneration in kind shall not substitute entirely for remuneration in money. Also, the aggregate amount of permissible deductions that may be made from the remuneration of any employee in any pay interval shall not exceed 25% of the employee’s gross remuneration for that interval. In accordance with section 17.3 C&J of the Labour Act, the Minister for Labour may issue regulations regarding overtime, shift work and night work. Overtime may be regulated under Collective Bargaining Agreement (section 74.3.E of Labour Act). No such regulation could be located. Overtime rates are determined by the National Employment Councils through a Collective Bargaining Agreement. The minimum overtime rate is 150% of the normal wage rate when workers have to work beyond normal working hours, as determined by the National Employment Councils. The standards working hours are 8.5 hours a day and 44 hours a week.

Zimbabwe's economic crises prior to 2009 led to many of the country's most skilled and well educated citizens to emigrate, leading to widespread labour shortages for managerial and technical jobs. At the same time, the decade long severe contraction of the economy caused formal sector employment to drop significantly.

For more information on manual labor costs in Zimbabwe, please see the following attachment: Additional Zimbabwe Manual Labor Information

Minimum Wage

In accordance with section 20.1 of the Labour Act 2005, the Minister has the authority to specify the minimum wage and benefits for any class of employees in any undertaking or industry. Minimum wages are usually issued for industries not covered by the employment councils. 

Regular Pay

In accordance with section 12A of the Labour Act, 2005, wages should be paid at regular intervals on working days at or near the workplace. Remuneration payable in money should not be paid to an employee by way of promissory notes, vouchers, coupons, liquor etc. Remuneration in kind shall not substitute entirely for remuneration in money. Also, the aggregate amount of permissible deductions that may be made from the remuneration of any employee in any pay interval shall not exceed 25% of the employee’s gross remuneration for that interval.

Minimum Wages in Zimbabwe for the year 2015

As the UN is not a member of The National Employment Council the Manual Labour costs have been withheld. The type of contracts that UN enter with service providers puts the labour obligation on the service provider. UN does not deal directly with the labourers.

For more information on manual labor costs in Zimbabwe, please see the following attachment: Additional Zimbabwe Manual Labor Information

The communications system in Zimbabwe was once one of the best in Africa, but now suffers from poor maintenance; more than 100,000 outstanding requests for connection despite an equally large number of installed but unused main lines domestic: consists of microwave radio relay links, open-wire lines, radiotelephone  communication stations, fixed wireless local loop installations, and a substantial mobile-cellular network; Internet connection is available in Harare and planned for all major towns and for some of the smaller ones.

Below are major highlights from 2014:

• Total number of active mobile subscribers is 11.4 million.
• Total number of active fixed telephone subscriptions is 340,852 subscribers
• Internet penetration rate reached 47.5%
• Total number of base stations (2G,3G & LTE) is currently 4,603 base stations.
• Available International internet bandwidth capacity reached 21,840Mbps
• International: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat; 2 international digital gateway exchanges (in Harare and Gweru)
• Growth of mobile transfer services(i.e Econet-EcoCash,Telecel-TeleCash,NetOne-One Wallet) has reached 4.9 million subscribers and 20,569 agents facilitating deposits amounting to $403,149,620 in the 3^rd quarter of 2014
• Whatsapp mobile application has now become a popular platform for communication not only nationally but internationally connecting people globally through their messenger service that utilises data consumption.

Cell phones in Zimbabwe have overtaken land phones as many cellular phones now provide Internet access and cell phone computers. SMS, MMS and broadband are becoming standard features on cell phones. Shopping for cell phone deals, the best broadband and cell phone service will save you money and help increase your productivity.

Econet Wireless Zimbabwe is Zimbabwe's largest provider of telecommunications services enjoying a 56.8% market share in mobile subscriptions, followed by NetOne and Telecel with 23.7% and 19.5% respectively. These companies provide solutions in mobile and fixed wireless telephony, public payphones, internet access and payment solutions. 

For more information on telecoms contacts, please see the following link: 4.9 Additional Services Contact List 

Telephone services
Is there a landline telephone network?				Yes
Does it allow reliable international calls?				Yes
The information gateway is limited to Tel-One, (and Econet by default), the Government can manage communications in a time of crisis. International calls are possible but are not reliable.
On average length of downtime periods for landline connections				From 12hrs to 6 weeks
Is there a mobile phone network?				Yes
Econet		Most popular network – operating in major cities, centres and arterial routes. Econet Wireless Zimbabwe says that it has concluded agreements with ZTE and Ericsson to supply and install equipment valued at over US$170 million for the expansion of its network from the current subscriber capacity of 4 million to just over 5.5 million. The work to be undertaken by the two companies and their subcontractors include the expansion of the GSM network, which is already GPRS enabled, as well as the separate installation of a national 3G network for all of Zimbabwe's major cities and tourist resorts. Currently, 3G is only available in parts of the capital Harare. Econet currently has just over 4 million subscribers and plans to exceed the level before the end of December. Investment by Econet during this year has enabled Zimbabwe to take its penetration rate from less than 10%, just a few months ago, to over 30% before the end of 2011. As a listed company, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe is the largest Zimbabwean company by market capitalisation, and remains the single largest investor in Zimbabwe.
Net-one		Net*One is the third largest cellular company in Zimbabwe and has over 900,000 subscribers. It provides coverage to all major towns and cities, all small towns, and tourist resorts. Net*One is affiliated with service providers Firstel Cellular and Zellco Cellular in phone sales, telephone cards and billing. The company offers a wide range of services including vehicle tracking and vehicle monitoring using global positioning satellite technology, throughout Zimbabwe and neighbouring countries. It offers equipment registration and SOS services. It also offers internet and data services.
Telecel		Telecel is the second largest cellular company in Zimbabwe and has over 1700,000 subscribers. It provides coverage to all major towns and cities, all small towns, and tourist resorts. It also offers internet and data services
Telone	Dial One a brand of Tel One offers the largest landline network in Zimbabwe that provides telecommunications to: Small and Large corporate enterprises Educational Institutions Research Organisations Multi Nationals Government and NGO’s Embassies and Foreign governments Individuals Dial One provides exciting and innovative services ranging from advanced functions such as prepaid phone cards, speed dialling and conference calling to toll free service.
	Internet Services Include:				Information Transfer includes:
	Leased line internet service Dial Up internet service Domain registration Domain hosting Internet Consultancy				ISDN ADSL ATM Managed Data Network
Procedure to obtain subscription			Land lines require a detailed procedure: Vigorous background credit checks, id documentation, proof of residence and guarantor for Landline

Telecommunication Regulation

Four separate pieces of legislation have a bearing on the regulatory environment for the Information and Communications Technology industry in Zimbabwe. These are the Postal and Telecommunications Act of 2000, the Broadcasting Services Act of 2001, the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act of 2002, and the Interception of Communications Act of 2007. At the present time, regulation of the ICT sector is divided between the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ), the Postal and Telecommunications Authority (POTRAZ) and the Media and Information Commission (MIC). POTRAZ is accountable to the Minister of Transport and Communications, while BAZ and the MIC report to the Minister of Media, Information, and Publicity. (Infrastructure and Growth in Zimbabwe)

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) is the industry regulator for telecommunications bearing responsibility for Economics(related to telecommunications), tariffs, competition, technical services and postal & courier services. POTRAZ has given mobile operators the go-ahead to offer additional services based on 3G and VoIP technology under their current licences, reports local news source Business Chronicle. In a statement, POTRAZ said it was amending the concessions of the operators so that they could begin offering new services to their customers. In an interview with the Chronicle, POTRAZ spokesperson Tawungana Ndoro said operators were still required to submit applications to the regulator to increase the scope of the services that they provided.

Zimbabwe has three licensed GSM network operators, Econet Wireless, NetOne and Telecel; the largest by subscriber base, Econet, has already begun deploying 3G W-CDMA technology.

Existing Humanitarian Telecoms Systems

Satellite Phones do not need frequencies as they use Sim cards. All the UN Agencies use the same frequencies or both HF and VHF. Voice over IP (VoIP) is a service of Vsat and therefore limited to WFP globally. VSAT/Satellite phones cannot be shut down and govt acknowledges their presence but they are illegal beyond the diplomatic requirements.