Trading from Zimbabwe: what is different
In April 2024 Zimbabwe introduced a new currency, Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), partly backed by gold reserves, while the US dollar remains widely used. An account held in dollars fits how many Zimbabweans already keep their money.
Gold is Zimbabwe's leading mineral export and backs the ZiG, so XAU/USD is the market most connected to home.
Zimbabwe is on Central Africa Time (UTC+2) all year. London opens at 10:00 in winter and 09:00 from April to October.
Forex market hours in Zimbabwe
The forex market is open 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday, passing from Asia to Europe to North America. These are the main sessions converted to local time in Zimbabwe.
| Session | Local time, Nov–Mar | Local time, Apr–Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo session | 02:00–11:00 | 02:00–11:00 |
| London session | 10:00–19:00 | 09:00–18:00 |
| New York session | 15:00–00:00 | 14:00–23:00 |
| London–New York overlap | 15:00–19:00 | 14:00–18:00 |
| Weekly open | Monday 00:00 | Sunday 23:00 |
| Weekly close | Saturday 00:00 | Friday 23:00 |
The busiest hours for the major pairs and gold are usually the London–New York overlap. Spreads tend to be widest around the daily rollover and in the first hour after the weekly open.
Markets to watch from Zimbabwe
- XAU/USD (gold) — Zimbabwe's leading mineral export and the backing for the ZiG.
- EUR/USD and GBP/USD — from 10:00 Harare time in winter.
- Copper (XCUUSD) and silver (XAGUSD).
- Dow Jones (US30) and Nasdaq 100 (USTEC) — from 16:30 Harare time in winter.
Accounts and funding
| Account | Minimum deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Cent | $10 (balance in USC) | From 1.4 pips | None |
| Standard | $100 | From 1.0 pips | None |
| Pro | $1,000 | From 0.6 pips | None |
| Raw ECN | $5,000 | From 0.0 pips | $7 per lot |
Accounts are held in US dollars and funded in USDT on BNB Smart Chain (BEP20) or Tron (TRC20). There is no Zimbabwe Gold conversion inside your account; any conversion happens wherever you buy or sell USDT. Identity verification is completed once, before your first withdrawal.
Regulation and your responsibility
AlphaFX Pro is an international broker and is not licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe (SECZ). Our registration in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is in progress. We do not provide investment advice or a local office in Zimbabwe.
Before opening an account, make sure the law in Zimbabwe allows you to trade CFDs with a broker based outside the country, and check any rules on moving money abroad. If you are not sure, ask us before you deposit.
Frequently asked questions
Is my account in US dollars?
Yes. Accounts are held in US dollars and funded in USDT on BEP20 or TRC20.
When does the forex market open in Zimbabwe?
Monday at 00:00 Harare time from November to March (Sunday at 23:00 from April to October), and it runs 24 hours a day until the weekly close on Friday night or early Saturday.
What is the minimum deposit from Zimbabwe?
The Standard Cent account opens from $10, funded in USDT, with the balance held in US cents ($10 = 1,000 USC). Standard opens from $100, Pro from $1,000 and Raw ECN from $5,000.
Risk warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. This page is general information, not investment advice. Read the Risk Disclosure.