Area Code 242 – Harare
The phone area code for Harare is 242 (international format +263242). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📍 Geographic Location of Harare
Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction
Area code 242 is the National Destination Code (NDC) for the Harare metropolitan area, the capital and largest city of Zimbabwe. This geographic code covers the city of Harare and its immediate surrounding suburbs, including high-density areas such as Mbare, Highfield, and Mabvuku, as well as low-density residential and commercial districts like Borrowdale, Mount Pleasant, and Avondale. The administrative jurisdiction aligns with the Harare Metropolitan Province, which also encompasses the satellite town of Chitungwiza, though Chitungwiza may be served by a separate exchange. The code is assigned to fixed-line PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) services, including traditional copper lines and fixed wireless local loop connections.
Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions
For callers within Zimbabwe, the national dialing format is 0 242 XXX XXXX, where the leading 0 is the trunk prefix used to access the national network. For example, to call a Harare landline from Bulawayo, one would dial 0242 123 4567. For international callers, the country code for Zimbabwe is +263, and the trunk prefix is omitted. The international format is +263 242 XXX XXXX, so the same number would be dialed as +263 242 123 4567 from outside the country. It is crucial to note that the area code is an integral part of the number; local calls within Harare may require the full NDC depending on the operator's dialing plan, but the standard E.164 format always includes the code.
Numbering and Overlay Considerations
Zimbabwe's numbering plan follows the ITU-T E.164 recommendation. Fixed-line numbers in Harare typically have a total length of 10 digits when including the trunk prefix (0) and the subscriber number, which is 7 digits after the area code. There is no overlay code for Harare; the 242 code is exclusive to the geographic region. However, due to the growth of VoIP and mobile services, some subscribers may have migrated to alternative technologies, but the geographic code remains tied to the physical location of the exchange.
Practical Guidance for Callers
When calling a Harare landline from a mobile phone within Zimbabwe, it is advisable to use the full national format (0242...) to ensure proper routing. From abroad, always use the international format with the plus sign (+) to signal the international access code, which varies by country (e.g., 00 in most European countries, 011 in the United States). For example, a caller in the UK would dial 00 263 242 123 4567 or simply +263 242 123 4567 on a mobile phone. Ensure that you have the correct number of digits; missing a digit will result in a failed call.