Data Centers in Zimbabwe
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Zimbabwe – An Emerging Digital Hub in Southern Africa
Executive Summary
Zimbabwe is establishing itself as a foundational digital market for businesses targeting Southern Africa. For companies requiring local data residency and improved application performance to serve the region's growing economies, Zimbabwe offers an essential footprint. Deploying infrastructure here reduces latency and provides a direct entry point into an underserved but developing market.
Zimbabwe: At A Glance
| Factor | Rating / Data | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Global Connectivity Grade | B | Submarine cable access via neighboring countries provides improving regional connectivity. |
| Direct Cloud On-Ramps | 0 – as of September 2025 | Nearest major cloud hubs are in South Africa; access via private network extensions. |
| Power Cost | Z$80.00-Z$110.00/kWh | Based on regional estimates as of September 2025; costs can fluctuate. |
| Disaster Risk | Moderate (5/10) | Primarily driven by drought and epidemic risk rather than seismic or storm events. |
| Tax Incentives | Yes | Data center specific sales tax exemptions are available to lower operational costs. |
| Sales Tax | 15% VAT – as of September 2025 | The standard Value Added Tax rate applies to most goods and services. |
Network & Connectivity Ecosystem
Carrier Density & Carrier Neutrality: As of September 2025, Zimbabwe has a developing carrier ecosystem with several national and regional providers. The two colocation facilities offer access to a foundational set of networks, though the market is still maturing toward widespread carrier neutrality.
Direct Cloud On-Ramps: There are no direct public cloud on-ramps within Zimbabwe as of September 2025. Businesses connect to cloud providers like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud (GCP) via the nearest major hubs in South Africa, typically Johannesburg. This is achieved through dedicated private network interconnects (PNI) or high-capacity wavelength services from local and regional carriers.
Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): The primary internet exchange point is the Zimbabwe Internet Exchange (ZIX), located in Harare. ZIX facilitates local traffic exchange between member ISPs, which helps lower transit costs and reduce latency for domestic internet traffic.
Bare Metal: Bare metal server options are available, primarily through regional providers that service Southern Africa. These solutions provide the dedicated performance needed for demanding applications.
Power Analysis
Average Cost Of Power: Industrial power costs are estimated to be between Z$80.00 and Z$110.00/kWh as of September 2025. This price point is competitive for the region but can be subject to variability based on grid stability and generation capacity. Managing power expenses is a key consideration for total cost of ownership.
Power Grid Reliability: The national power grid faces reliability challenges. Consequently, all data centers in Zimbabwe are engineered with significant redundancy, including on-site diesel generators, battery backup systems, and multiple utility feeds where possible to ensure continuous uptime for critical IT infrastructure.
Market Access, Business & Tax Climate
Proximity To Key Business Districts: Data centers are located primarily in Harare, the nation's capital and economic center. This ensures low-latency connectivity to the financial services sector, government agencies, and the headquarters of major national corporations.
Regional Market Reach: Zimbabwe serves as a strategic digital gateway to south-central Africa, including neighboring countries like Zambia, Mozambique, and Botswana. Colocating in Zimbabwe can significantly improve service delivery and user experience for populations in this wider region.
Tax Advantage For Data Centers: The government offers meaningful tax incentives to encourage digital infrastructure investment. Operators and their customers can benefit from sales tax exemption certificates, which lowers the capital and operational expense of deploying equipment.
Natural Disaster Risk
Zimbabwe has a moderate overall disaster risk profile, with a score of 5 out of 10 according to the INFORM Risk Index as of September 2025. The primary threats are not geological but environmental and health-related.
Key natural hazards include:
- Drought: The most significant natural hazard, with a risk score of 9.7.
- Epidemic: A high-impact risk at 5.1, affecting operational stability.
- River Flood: A moderate risk at 3.6, concentrated in specific regions.
- Earthquake: A low but present risk at 1.8.
