Wondering if ATMs and places like restaurants shops in Zimbabwe easily take American Express or its better to get a Visa or Mastercard
In April I attempted to use my Amex at a Cresta hotel in Harare. They offered to pass it through, then told me their bank wouldn’t support it. I ended up using my Visa and they even waived the surcharge. At CBZ ATMs I withdrew with Mastercard effortlessly. My takeaway: Amex = waste of time here; stick with Visa or Mastercard and you're sorted.
Tried using Amex at a Victoria Falls gift shop in June and got nothing but an awkward shrug. Shop owner muttered “bank reject.” On my return to Harare, I used Visa to buy SIM credit and they happily processed it. In Zimbabwe, American Express acceptance is almost zero. Best to rely on Visa/MasterCard and cash in pockets.
American Express is rejected almost everywhere - restaurants, shops, even hotel POS terminals. My Mastercard from South Africa worked smoothly at CABS and Stanbic ATMs this May. I also learned to press “No” on dynamic currency conversion. Visa is fine too. A dual setup (Visa + MasterCard) saved my life once an ATM was down. Leave your Amex at home next time.
I tried Amex on my second day in Harare (April) at a Spur restaurant and even they declined it. The waiter looked embarrassed. Tried again at a CBZ ATM - no dice. Visa and MasterCard work fine at Stanbic, CABS, FBC, CBZ. My advice: drop the idea of Amex completely, it’s useless here. Just use a Visa debit or credit card for anything important and always have cash backup.