Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Zimbabwe, you are subject to its laws. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Zimbabwean laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Zimbabwe can be severe, and convicted offenders can expect average jail sentences of three to seven years and heavy fines. In Zimbabwe, authorities may take you in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you or if you take pictures of certain buildings. Taking pictures of government buildings such as the Munhumutapa building which houses the President’s offices is punishable by a jail term and there is no provision of a fine for those found guilty. In Zimbabwe, authorities also arrest people for taking pictures of other buildings such as police stations and offenders may also be subject to fines or jail time.

There are also some things that might be legal in some countries you visit, but still illegal in the United States. You can be prosecuted in the United States for engaging in sexual conduct with children or for using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country regardless of the legality of these activities under that country’s laws. Counterfeit and pirated goods are illegal in the United States and if you purchase them in a foreign country, you may be breaking local law as well.

Although Zimbabwean authorities are required to notify the nearest U.S. embassy when a U.S. citizen has been arrested, Zimbabwean police do not always provide timely notification to the U.S. embassy in Harare. Further, the Government of Zimbabwe does not always grant immediate or repeated visits to detained or incarcerated U.S. citizens by Embassy consular officers. Individuals may be detained for up to 48 hours without due process, and detainees accused or suspected of political offenses have been repeatedly remanded in 14-day increments. You are encouraged to carry a copy of your U.S. passport with you at all times to be able to provide proof of identity and citizenship if questioned by local officials. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Zimbabwe is a largely cash society without its own currency. The U.S. dollar, South African rand, and Botswanan pula (near the Botswana border) are the main means of cash payment for all goods and services. Travelers’ checks are not widely accepted.

The United States placed targeted sanctions on the property and economic assets of certain Zimbabwean individuals and entities deemed most responsible for undermining Zimbabwe’s democratic institutions. United States citizens should carefully review the U.S. sanctions program prior to engaging in the purchase/sale or transfer of money and other assets with a Zimbabwean citizen or entity. Under U.S. law, it is illegal for U.S. citizens or residents to engage in any transaction or dealing with the targeted individuals or other entities designated by the Secretary of the Treasury under this sanctions program. It is not otherwise illegal for U.S. citizens to transact business with Zimbabwean firms and individuals. U.S. citizens intending to engage in business or financial transactions in Zimbabwe are advised to consult the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control for up-to-date information on these sanctions.

Zimbabwe offers opportunities for observation of wildlife in its natural habitat, and many tour operators and safari lodges offer structured, safe excursions into parks and other wildlife viewing areas for close observation of flora and fauna. However, safety standards and training vary, and it is a good idea to ascertain whether operators are trained and licensed. Even animals marketed as “tame” should be respected as wild and extremely dangerous. If you participate in nature excursions in Zimbabwe, you should be aware that organized and licensed tour operators may encourage or allow tourists to participate in activities, such as walking or canoe safaris, which could pose risks to personal safety. Travelers should keep a safe distance from animals at all times, and remain in vehicles or other protected enclosures when venturing into game parks.

Tourists who wish to hunt in Zimbabwe must be accompanied by a licensed operator, who is required to be registered and licensed by the Zimbabwe Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Travelers to Zimbabwe should ask for the operator’s license number when booking a hunt and should check the authenticity of the license by contacting the Zimbabwe Association of Tour and Safari Operators (ZATSO). Visiting hunters are well-advised to seek confirmation that they are not hunting on illegally seized land or on a nature conservancy. Hunting on such lands can expose the hunter to arrest, lawsuits, fines, seizure of possessions, and imprisonment.

U.S. citizens who are temporarily carrying firearms and ammunition into Zimbabwe for purposes of hunting, and who cannot qualify for an exemption under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), may need an approved temporary export license (DSP73) from Department of State's Office of Defense Trade Controls. You should also contact the Embassy of Zimbabwe in Washington, D.C. to find out what permits are required by the Government of Zimbabwe for importing weapons into the country. You are advised to make sure that all of the necessary documentation is in order before departing the United States. The weapons also must be cleared through U.S. Customs when leaving the United States and upon reentry at the conclusion of your trip. All firearms must be packed and transported in an approved firearm case. Ammunition must be packed in a lockable box with a key and placed in checked baggage.

WOMEN TRAVELER INFORMATION: If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for women travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: The constitution of Zimbabwe specifically outlaws marriage between people of the same gender and allows for discrimination based on sexual orientation. Consensual sex between men is criminalized in Zimbabwe, with both parties subject to fines of 5,000 USD and a year imprisonment or both. To avoid prosecution in cases where men are arrested for sexual relations, one individual frequently denies his earlier consent, resulting in a charge against the other party of aggravated indecent assault or indecent assault, which carries a sentence of up to life imprisonment. While there is no explicit legal prohibition against sexual relations between women, societal violence and harassment against LGBT individuals is pervasive. LGBT travelers are encouraged to exercise discretion when critiquing Zimbabwean laws or attitudes toward same-sex relationships, as both influential religious and political leaders promote intolerance. Criticism of leaders can be construed as “criminal insult” resulting in fines of 300 USD, up to one year imprisonment, or both. For more detailed information about LGBT rights in Zimbabwe you may review the State Department’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. For further information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) travel, please read our LGBT travel information.

ACCESSIBILITY: While in Zimbabwe, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodations very different from what you find in the United States. The Zimbabwe constitution and law prohibit discrimination against persons with disabilities in employment, access to public places, and the provision of services. However, the law is not widely known, poorly implemented, and rarely enforced. Persons with disabilities face harsh societal discrimination and widespread physical barriers. Many public buildings do not have wheelchair ramps, operational elevators, or suitable restroom facilities. Public transportation does not include lifts or access by wheelchair. Road crossing aids for the disabled are nonexistent and sidewalks in urban areas are in disrepair and cluttered with numerous obstacles. Persons with mental disabilities will experience inadequate medical care, medications, and facilities. Nonetheless, many private lodges and hotels have excellent access and facilities for disabled visitors.