No MasterCard in Zimbabwe
 

For those going to Zimbabwe, effective 1/07, MasterCard will not be accepted anywhere in Zimbabwe. Visa and American Express cards will still be accepted at hotels, restaurants and activities.

We will be at the Victoria Falls Hotel end of May this year so thanks for the info. I have heard that when in Zim use USD instead of credit card as cash is cheaper than the CC due to charges and the exchange rate etc. Does this apply to Hotels such as VFH.

I would ask the hotel directly. When I was in Zimbabwe a few months ago the hotels used the official rate even if you pay in cash. Most other stores and restaurants will give you a better rate when you pay in USD.

at Ilala Lodge in Vic Falls, they gave a 40, yes 40% discount if paying food/bar bills in USD. At the Victoria Falls Hotel, it was the same price whether in USD or credit card (and with Capital One, no transaction fee) for food/bar bills. As we were running low on cash at the VFH, we charged it and when the bill came it was the same as we signed for.

That 40% discount is still a rip off. When I was there the official rate was 250 ZWD to 1 USD.

Stores would give 600 ZWD to 1 USD. I'm pretty sure that there is a law that foreigners must pay with foreign currency though.

probably true rb, but we had 4 drinks, 2 steak dinners, soup and salad for less than $20 U.S. at the Ilala after the discount. Compared to the $40.00 lunch at VFH it was much better and cheaper.
there is a law that foreigners must pay their hotel bills in foreign currency, not necessarily at restaurants as we were asked if we were paying in US or Zim.

now I remember...if charging meals to the room, then yes, it must be paid in foreign currency on check-out by law. but you can pay in Zim dollars at the time of eating.