Area Code 688 – Chakari

Geographic Overview

The +263 688 area code is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the town of Chakari, located in the Mashonaland West Province of Zimbabwe. Chakari is a mining and agricultural centre, situated approximately 130 kilometres southwest of the capital, Harare. The code covers the town itself and the surrounding rural areas, including nearby settlements such as Battlefields and Golden Valley, which are part of the same telephone exchange area.

Dialing Formats

When calling a fixed-line number in Chakari from within Zimbabwe, subscribers must dial the trunk prefix '0' followed by the area code and the subscriber's local number. The national format is: 0 688 XXX XXX (where X represents the local subscriber digits). For example, a local number might be dialled as 0688 123 456.

For international callers, the country code for Zimbabwe (+263) replaces the leading '0', and the area code is used without the trunk prefix. The international format is: +263 688 XXX XXX. For instance, to call a Chakari number from abroad, you would dial +263 688 123 456.

Caller Instructions

Local callers (within Zimbabwe): Dial the full national number including the trunk prefix '0'. For example, 0688 123 456.

International callers: Dial your country's international access code (e.g., 00 or +), then Zimbabwe's country code 263, followed by the area code 688 and the subscriber number, omitting the initial '0'. Example: +263 688 123 456.

Network and Regulatory Notes

Zimbabwe's numbering plan is administered by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ). Geographic area codes are assigned to fixed-line services, and numbers under 688 are typically provisioned by the incumbent operator, TelOne, which provides PSTN services in the region. As of the latest updates, there are no overlay codes for Chakari, meaning the 688 code is exclusive to this geographic area. Callers should be aware that while mobile numbers in Zimbabwe are also 10 digits long (including the leading '0'), they use different NDCs (e.g., 71, 73, 77) and are not reachable via the 688 code.

Practical Considerations

For businesses or individuals establishing contact with Chakari, it is essential to confirm whether the number is still active, as fixed-line infrastructure in rural areas may be limited. In some cases, residents may rely on mobile or VoIP services, which are not associated with this geographic code. Always verify the complete number with the recipient to avoid misdialling.