Will Zimbabwe Be the Next Country to Launch an E-Visa?
Zimbabwe is modernizing travel procedures with a new national online border management system—could an e-visa be next?
Zimbabwe’s government has drawn global attention with its recent announcement of a new online border management system designed to streamline entry and stay procedures. This initiative marks a major step toward embracing advanced technology to enhance administrative efficiency and strengthen national security.
Zimbabwe’s Push Toward E-Visa Implementation
The government of Zimbabwe has signed a contract with Garsų Pasaulis, a Lithuanian private company, to develop a national online border management system capable of issuing entry visas and residence permits. The agreement was confirmed by Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa at a post-Cabinet press briefing this week.
The Cabinet has reviewed and approved the engagement of Garsų Pasaulis to implement an integrated online border management system for visas and permits, as proposed by the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Kazembe Kazembe. — Monica Mutsvangwa
Notably, Garsų Pasaulis has already implemented the country’s system for producing biometric electronic passports, including related services across all provinces. The resulting elimination of processing delays and queues serves as a strong endorsement of government vision.
Minister Mutsvangwa also stated that Cabinet agreed to extend Garsų Pasaulis’s contract to include the development of a national biometric infrastructure that can produce entry visas and residence permits. "The issuance of visas and permits will be supported by an integrated information and communication technology system capable of sustainably meeting service demand," she explained. While not yet formally called an e-visa system—as used in neighboring Mozambique or Botswana—the initiative is effectively indistinguishable in practice.
Key Benefits of an E-Visa System for Zimbabwe
The introduction of an e-visa system would be a major milestone for Zimbabwe, significantly easing travel for international visitors while reinforcing border security. Through biometric verification, authorities can ensure accurate identification of every traveler, reducing fraud risks and curbing illegal activities at entry points.
Tourism in Zimbabwe is experiencing a renaissance in 2023, with revenue reaching US$580 million in the nine months leading up to September 2022—a remarkable 137.7% increase over the previous year.
Most visitors to Zimbabwe come from other African countries, underlining the importance of intra-African travel to the nation’s economy.
How Does This Relate to the KAZA Univisa?
The KAZA Univisa—launched in 2014—is a joint initiative between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It allows tourists to enter and travel freely between the two countries using a single visa. The name "KAZA" refers to the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, a five-nation project uniting Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe to promote regional tourism. If realized, Zimbabwe’s new digital visa initiative would complement—not replace—the KAZA Univisa, focusing exclusively on arrivals bound for Zimbabwe.
