Employment in Zimbabwe

Work in Zimbabwe is fairly relaxed, with a typical working day between eight ten 10 hours, equating to around 40 hours a week. Every employee must take a break after five hours, and the minimum wage is approximately 133 USD per month.

Typically, a sales manager in Zimbabwe can command a salary of 1,500 USD per month, a qualified teacher around 1,000 USD, and an experienced healthcare worker an income of 1,000 USD.

Economic Overview

As a lower middle-income country, Zimbabwe has a relatively advanced financial system with a stock exchange and also a relatively strong manufacturing sector. In 2013, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Zimbabwe was worth 12.8 billion USD.

 Principal industries include mining, agriculture, and tourism. However, 5.7 million people are working in Zimbabwe’s SME sector, which sees an annual turnover of 7.4 billion USD. For 2015, the government forecast an annual growth of 3.2 percent. Weak commodity prices, sporadic rainfall, cheaper imports, and very high interest rates may all stifle projected growth figures, though.

Job Hunting in Zimbabwe

Finding work in Zimbabwe requires persistence. One of the most popular jobs among expats is teaching English. Other workers utilize their skills and expertise for jobs in sectors such as petroleum and oil, tourism, housing, healthcare, engineering, and education. Some jobs may also be available at foreign embassies and missions.

Employers tend to advertise careers in Zimbabwe in countrywide newspapers, such as The Herald. There are also a large number of international job sites that regularly feature careers, including Zimbabwe Human Capital, Kubatana, Careers in Africa, and LinkedIn. Remember that when using job websites, you can often get a low response rate; nevertheless, they are worth a try, as you may make some new contacts.

Work Permits for Zimbabwe

Similarly to tourist and short-term business visas for Zimbabwe, work permits are handled by the Department of Immigration. They are available to expats who are either:

• professionals with skills not typically available in Zimbabwe,  
• journalists,
• employees on short six month contracts, or
• foreign researchers who have been cleared by the Research Council of Zimbabwe.

To apply, your employer has to submit an application to the Principal Director including a fee of 500 USD, your completed Residence Permit Application forms, a letter of employment offer, evidence of your English qualifications and experience in your applied occupation, two certified passport photos, your birth and marriage certificate.