Zimbabwe Extends Victoria Falls Border Post Hours To 24/7

Victoria Falls Border Post Now Open 24 Hours A Day

In a dramatic move set to transform regional travel, the Zimbabwean government has declared that the Victoria Falls Border Post will now operate twenty-four hours a day. This immediate change, announced in an extraordinary government gazette on Thursday, November 14, 2025, signals a major shift for one of the country’s most vital ports of entry. The border, which previously closed its gates at 10PM, will never sleep again.

The official announcement was made by Nick Mangwana on X, where he shared the pivotal news. The legal basis for this round-the-clock operation is General Notice 2265A of 2025, issued under the Immigration Act.

Mangwana posted:

“VICTORIA FALLS AIRPORT NOW OPERATING 24/7. Act [Chapter 4:02], the Minister has extended the operating hours for the Victoria Falls Border Post to twenty-four (24) hours on a daily basis, with effect from the date of publication of this notice.”

The notice itself was formally signed by the Secretary for Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Raphael Faranisi. This administrative leap is widely seen as a direct effort to boost tourism and simplify cross-border trade and movement between Zimbabwe and Zambia.

A Boost For Tourism And Trade

Industry experts are hailing the decision as a game-changer. The extended hours provide unprecedented flexibility for tourists wishing to experience both sides of the majestic Victoria Falls, known as Mosi-oa-Tunya (The Smoke That Thunders), without being constrained by a strict curfew.

The move is also a major win for cross-border traders and truck drivers, who often faced long queues and costly overnight delays waiting for the gates to reopen at 6AM.

Timing Coincides With High-Level Talks

The border announcement came at a strategically significant moment. It was published just a day before President Emmerson Mnangagwa was scheduled to host Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema in Harare. The two leaders were set to convene for the inaugural session of the Zambia-Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission on Friday, November 15, 2025.

While not explicitly stated in the gazette, the timing strongly suggests that improved cross-border cooperation was a key item on their agenda. According to the original reporting, the move is expressly intended to “facilitate tourism and trade and improve cross-border movement between Zimbabwe and Zambia.”