Victoria Falls Border Post Now Open 24 Hours A Day

Zimbabwe opens the Victoria Falls border post 24/7, aiming to boost tourism, ease trade delays and strengthen cross-border cooperation with Zambia (image source)

The Zimbabwean government issued an extraordinary gazette on 14 November 2025 extending the operating hours of the Victoria Falls port of entry so that it no longer closes at 10PM, a change framed as an immediate measure to facilitate tourism and trade and to improve cross-border movement between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The notice, published under the Immigration Act as General Notice 2265A of 2025, was shared on social media by Nick Mangwana and formally signed by the Secretary for Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Raphael Faranisi. The decision takes effect from the date of publication and applies to both pedestrian and vehicular traffic at this strategic frontier point.

Officials and industry stakeholders say the extension is a potential game-changer for the region. Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya) is one of southern Africa’s premier tourist attractions, and round-the-clock border operations remove a major scheduling constraint for visitors who wish to experience both the Zimbabwean and Zambian sides in a single trip. Tour operators and hoteliers welcomed the move, noting that flexible arrival and departure times will allow for later flights, evening excursions and smoother itineraries that can increase overnight stays and tourism receipts.

Beyond leisure travel, the change is expected to relieve chronic logistical bottlenecks for cross-border traders and long-distance truck drivers who previously faced overnight waits when the gates closed. Extended hours should reduce queueing, lower the cost of delays and improve the reliability of supply chains that link Zimbabwe to regional ports and markets. For informal traders and small businesses that depend on timely border access, the policy could translate into fewer lost sales and lower transport costs. The timing of the announcement is notable: it preceded a high-level meeting between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, who were due to convene the inaugural session of the Zambia-Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission. While the gazette does not explicitly link the change to bilateral talks, the proximity of the two events suggests cross-border cooperation and regional integration were central to the agenda.

Practical implementation will determine whether the policy delivers its promise. Extending hours requires additional staffing for immigration, customs and security, revised shift patterns, and increased operational budgets. Authorities will need to ensure adequate lighting, CCTV and emergency services to manage night-time traffic safely, and to guard against potential rises in smuggling or other cross-border crime that can accompany longer operating windows. Coordination with Zambian counterparts will be essential to avoid mismatched hours or procedural bottlenecks on the opposite bank.

The government has signalled that the measure is part of a broader push to make border management more facilitative and tourism-friendly. If effectively resourced and paired with bilateral coordination, the 24-hour operation at Victoria Falls could become a tangible example of how administrative reform can unlock economic benefits for communities on both sides of the Zambezi.