🧭 The Zim Gwara

Clear, simple guides for navigating official paperwork for Zimbabweans. No jargon, just the essential steps.

Welcome to The Zim Gwara

Navigating official processes can be confusing and stressful. Built for Zimbabweans, both at home and abroad, this site was created to provide clear, simple, and practical guides for common tasks in Zimbabwe—from getting a passport to buying a property. Our goal is to empower you with the information you need, all in one easy-to-use place. Learn more about our mission or find your path below.

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Explore Our Guides

Apply for a New Zim e-Passport

The complete guide to the online booking and application process for a new passport from within Zimbabwe.

Get a National ID Card (New & Replacement)

The process for getting a first-time ID or replacing a lost/old one at the Registrar's office.

Register a Private Business Corp. (PBC)

How to formalise your small business in Zimbabwe with the simplest and most popular company structure.

Find Key Govt. Offices

Locate Civil Registry and Companies Registry offices on our interactive map.

Buy a Residential Stand Safely

How to verify title deeds, avoid scams, and navigate the legal process of purchasing land.

Build a House (The Official Process)

From getting your plans approved by the council to obtaining a certificate of occupation.

Buy & Sell a House

A guide to the process for both buyers and sellers, including valuations and tax clearance.

A Renter's Guide to a Home

Understand your rights and responsibilities as a tenant, from the lease agreement to the security deposit.

A Landlord's Guide to Renting

Learn how to vet tenants, create a solid lease, and handle the legal eviction process.

Install Solar Power at Your Home

A guide to the legal requirements, finding a certified installer, and understanding net metering in Zimbabwe.

Drill a Borehole Legally

The process for getting the right permits from ZINWA and your local council before you drill.

Building Cost Estimator

Get a rough, ballpark estimate of the cost to build a new house based on size and quality.

Open a Bank Account

A guide to the KYC documents you'll need and the difference between a ZWL and a Nostro FCA account.

A Beginner's Guide to EcoCash

Learn how to register, send money, pay bills, and cash out using the *151# mobile money menu.

Receive Money from Overseas

A comparison of popular services and the documents you need to collect cash remittances.

Loans & Credit Cards

An explanation of personal loans, asset-backed lending, and how credit cards work in Zimbabwe.

Mortgages (Bonds)

The requirements for getting a mortgage to buy a house, including the need for USD income and a deposit.

ZIMRA Duty Calculator

Estimate the customs duty payable on personal goods you bring into Zimbabwe.

PAYE Salary Estimator

Get an estimate of your monthly take-home pay after NSSA, PAYE, and AIDS Levy deductions.

Building Cost Estimator

Get a rough, ballpark estimate of the cost to build a new house based on size and quality.

Interactive Services Map

Find the locations of key government offices, border posts, and other service points.

Register a Birth

The process for new parents to get their child's first and most essential legal document.

Get a Death Certificate

The required steps and documents needed to register a death and handle the deceased's estate.

Get a Marriage Certificate

The legal process for giving notice and having a marriage officially registered.

The Divorce Process

An overview of the legal steps for both contested and uncontested divorce in Zimbabwe.

Find Civil Registry Offices

Locate the main offices for registering births, deaths, and marriages.

Apply for University

A guide for school-leavers on using the ZIMSEC portal and applying to institutions like UZ, NUST, and MSU.

Get a NSSA Number

The process of registering with the National Social Security Authority for your pension.

Understand Your Payslip

A simple breakdown of common deductions like PAYE, NSSA, and the AIDS Levy.

Register as a Taxpayer (ZIMRA)

How to get a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) to stay tax compliant.

Find University Campuses

See the main campus locations for UZ, NUST, and MSU on our interactive map.

Get a Class 4 License (Car)

From the provisional learner's license to passing your final road test with the VID.

Get a Class 2 License (Trucks/Buses)

The requirements for a professional heavy vehicle license, including the DDC and medical exam.

Get a Class 3 License (Motorcycles)

A guide to the practical yard test and requirements for a motorcycle license.

Change Ownership of a Used Car

How to safely handle the police clearance and ZIMRA transfer process when buying or selling a vehicle.

Find VID Centers

Locate the main Vehicle Inspection Department depots in Harare and Bulawayo.

Get an Electricity Connection

A guide to the ZETDC application process, pre-paid meters, and buying electricity tokens.

Get a Municipal Water Connection

How to open an account with your local council and understand your monthly rates and water bill.

Get Internet & Mobile Services

A breakdown of the main providers for mobile data and home internet (Fibre/ADSL).

Get Starlink Satellite Internet

A guide to the legal status, ordering process, and self-installation of Starlink in Zimbabwe.

Find Utility Offices

See the main ZETDC and ZINWA office locations on our interactive map.

Renew a Zim Passport in South Africa

The complete process for applying for a new e-passport at the consulate in South Africa (for diaspora).

Driving Through a Border Post

A guide to the documents and processes for crossing Zimbabwe's land borders with a private vehicle.

Clear Personal Goods at the Border

Understand ZIMRA customs, duties, and the traveller's rebate for goods bought in South Africa.

Prepare for a Visa Application

A general guide to the common documents needed to prove your financial and social ties to Zimbabwe.

Import a Car from the UK

A step-by-step guide to the shipping, customs, and ZIMRA duty process for UK vehicle imports.

Navigating the Airport

A guide to arrivals, departures, and parking for domestic and international flights.

Find Airports & Border Posts

See the locations of major airports and the Beitbridge Border Post on our interactive map.