Area Code 285 – Turkmine

Overview of Zimbabwe Area Code 285

Area code 285 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the Turkmine region in Zimbabwe. It forms part of the national numbering plan under the country's telecom regulator, the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ). The code is used for fixed-line telephone services within this specific administrative area, which is located in the Mashonaland West province, approximately 100 kilometers southwest of Harare.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The 285 area code serves the town of Turkmine and its surrounding rural districts, including the Chegutu and Kadoma areas. This region is known for its mining activities, particularly gold and chrome extraction, as well as agricultural production. The fixed-line network in this area is operated by TelOne, the national incumbent telecommunications operator, which provides PSTN services to residential and business subscribers.

Dialing Formats and Procedures

To call a fixed-line number in the Turkmine area, the following formats apply:

• Local calls (within Zimbabwe): Dial the trunk prefix 0, followed by the area code 285 and the subscriber number, which is typically 6 digits long. For example, 0 285 123456.
• International calls (from outside Zimbabwe): Dial the international access prefix (e.g., 00 in most countries, or + from mobile), followed by Zimbabwe's country code +263, then the area code 285 (without the leading zero) and the subscriber number. For example, +263 285 123456.

When calling from a mobile phone within Zimbabwe, the same national format applies: 0 285 123456. It is important to note that the leading 0 is only used for domestic calls; international callers must omit it.

Overlay and Numbering Plan Considerations

Currently, there is no overlay code for the 285 area. Subscribers in this region have a single NDC, and the numbering plan is closed, meaning the number length is fixed. However, as the demand for fixed-line services evolves, POTRAZ may introduce overlays or migrate to a unified numbering scheme in the future. For now, callers should always use the full national number, including the area code, even for calls within the same locality, to ensure proper routing.

Caller Instructions

For local callers within Turkmine: If you are dialing a number within the same area code, you still need to include the area code as part of the full national number. For international callers, ensure you have the correct country code and area code, and be mindful of time zone differences (Zimbabwe is UTC+2).