Africa
Zimbabwe
CAAZ — Part 180, Regulations for Remotely Piloted Aircraft/UAV Systems
Zimbabwe regulates drones through CAAZ (Part 180). A registration certificate is always required, with additional requirements above 20 kg (or above 2 kg if the drone has autonomous capability).
Limit of 400 feet above the surface in visual meteorological conditions (VMC) within aerodrome traffic zones (ATZ/CTR). Upon sighting a manned aircraft, the drone must descend by at least 100 feet.
A registration certificate and marking are mandatory for all RPA; additional certification requirements apply above 20 kg (or above 2 kg with autonomous capability). Temporary import permits require an application at least 30 days in advance; flight clearance certificates are valid for a maximum of 3 months.
No details on a separate pilot certificate appear in the text consulted.
Mandatory (a dedicated section of the regulation); minimum coverage amounts are not specified in the excerpt consulted.
Zones to avoid
No-fly zones usually follow the same recurring categories (airports, military sites, protected areas, historic centers). For this country: Forbidden within a 3 nautical mile radius of a controlled or uncontrolled aerodrome without authorization. Minimum distance of 30 m from people/structures not involved in the operation or from public roads, unless exempted.
What isn't 100% confirmed yet
Data verified against the text of the 2016 'CAAZ Part 180' draft (industry-consultation version, 31 pages): secondary legal sources indicate it was folded into Statutory Instrument 271 of 2018, but it could not be confirmed that the final gazetted text is byte-identical to this draft.
Verify officially before flying
Source: CAAZ — Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe
Last checked: 2026-08
Go deeper
Why registration exists
Operator registration exists for accountability: if a drone causes an incident or enters a restricted zone, the authority needs to be able to trace it back to whoever was flying it. You usually get an identification number (operator ID) to physically attach to the drone, valid for every drone the same person owns. The cost is often minimal or free, and it applies to visiting tourists too, not just residents. For Zimbabwe, the official reference remains CAAZ — Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe. A registration certificate and marking are mandatory for all RPA; additional certification requirements apply above 20 kg (or above 2 kg with autonomous capability). Temporary import permits require an application at least 30 days in advance; flight clearance certificates are valid for a maximum of 3 months.
How this usually works
Even where an exam isn't formally required, most aviation authorities still recommend a basic safety course: rules change often, and flying without the basics is a real risk even without a legal obligation. The exam and certificate are handled by CAAZ — Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe. No details on a separate pilot certificate appear in the text consulted.
Informational content, not legal advice. Zones and rules change constantly: always check the country's official website before every flight.