Short answer: to register a .co.zw domain, search for an available name, order it through a registrar, and send the documents ZISPA asks for: a national ID or certificate of incorporation, plus a signed letter or certified ID copy accepting its terms. ZISPA aims to process complete applications within one working day. At Tremhost a .co.zw costs $6.99 a year and renews at the same price.
This guide covers choosing between .co.zw and .com, picking a name, the paperwork, the registration steps, and how to connect the domain to your website and email once it is live.
What is a .co.zw domain?
.co.zw is the commercial second-level domain under Zimbabwe’s country code, .zw. It is run by ZISPA, the Zimbabwe Internet Service Providers’ Association, through registrars. A name like yourbusiness.co.zw tells visitors at a glance that you are a business serving Zimbabwe.
A domain is separate from hosting. The domain is the address; hosting is where your website files and mailboxes live. You can register the name now and add hosting or email later. If the idea is new to you, start with what a domain name is.
.co.zw, .com or another extension?
Choose the extension based on who your customers are. A country-code domain is one signal to search engines about which country a site is for, but it does not replace useful content and a fast site.
| Extension | Best for | First year | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| .co.zw | Businesses selling mainly in Zimbabwe | $6.99 | $6.99 |
| .org.zw | NGOs and similar organisations | $15 | $15 |
| .ac.zw | Academic institutions | $15 | $15 |
| .com | Any business, local or international | $15.99 | $15.99 |
| .co.za | A South African presence | $8.99 | $8.99 |
| .africa | A pan-African presence | $25 | $25 |
Prices are from Tremhost’s store, listed on 4 November 2026, in US dollars. Always check the renewal price as well as the first-year price: on some extensions they differ. For example, .online is $14 for the first year and $40 to renew.
Many businesses register both the .co.zw and the .com of their name, use one as the main address and point the other at it, so nobody else can take either.
How to choose a good domain name
- Keep it short. Shorter names are easier to type, remember and fit on a business card.
- Make it easy to say aloud. If you have to spell it out over the phone, it is too complicated.
- Avoid hyphens and numbers unless they are part of your brand. They get lost when people say the address.
- Match your business name where you can, so customers can guess it.
- Check company names and trademarks. ZISPA asks for the company’s authority if the name is a known company or organisation name.
- Think ahead. Pick a name that still fits if you add products or services later.
- Search before you print. Confirm the name is available before you order cards or signage.
Write down three or four options before you search, because your first choice may already be taken. If it is, try a small variation or add a location word rather than hyphens.
What ZISPA asks for
ZISPA’s requirements, as summarised on Tremhost’s domains page from zispa.org.zw (read 4 November 2026), are:
- The owner’s details, with a national ID for a person or a certificate of incorporation for a company.
- A signed letter on letterhead, or a certified ID copy for a person, naming the domain and accepting ZISPA’s terms.
- Authority from the company concerned if the name is a known company or organisation name.
- Two working nameservers. If you register with Tremhost, these are set up for you.
Schools, clubs and churches should be registered in the organisation’s name, not a person’s. A .com or .org does not need this paperwork.
How to register a .co.zw domain, step by step
- Search for the name on the domains page and add the .co.zw, and the .com if you want it, to your order.
- Enter accurate owner details. Use your business or your own name, and an email address someone reads, because renewal reminders go there.
- Pay in US dollars by EcoCash, InnBucks, ZimSwitch, Omari, Visa, Mastercard, Bitcoin, Tron or Litecoin.
- Send the documents. Tremhost tells you exactly what to send after you order and submits the application, so it is not sent back for missing paperwork.
- Wait for approval. ZISPA aims to process complete applications within one working day, so allow for this before you plan a launch date.
- Connect the domain to your website and email, as described below.
How to connect your .co.zw domain to hosting
The domain and the hosting have to be pointed at each other through DNS. There are two ways to do it:
- Change the nameservers. Your host gives you nameserver addresses, you enter them at the registrar, and the hosting account then controls your DNS. This is the simplest route, and if the domain and hosting are both at Tremhost it is connected for you.
- Edit the DNS records. You keep DNS where it is and add an A record for the main address, a CNAME for subdomains such as www, and MX records for email. This gives more control if your DNS is hosted elsewhere. See how to edit DNS records.
After a change, allow time for propagation. It usually takes a few hours, but allow up to 48 hours before treating it as a problem. Keep any old hosting running until it finishes, and note that free SSL only issues once the domain points to the new server. The Help Centre explains how long DNS propagation takes.
Once the domain resolves, install WordPress in one click through Softaculous or use the AI Website Builder, and check the padlock appears. If you already have a site on another host, Tremhost moves it for free, usually within 24 hours, and switches the domain only once the site works.
Setting up email on your new domain
An address like [email protected] looks more established on a quote than a free webmail address. There are two routes:
- With a hosting plan. Every Tremhost web hosting plan includes unlimited email accounts on your domain. Bvumba, at $50 a year, suits a company website with staff email.
- Email only. Business email hosting starts at $5 a month for up to 50 mailboxes and 75 GB, with SPF, DKIM and DMARC set up for you.
As a worked example from Tremhost’s domains page, a .co.zw ($6.99), the SME email plan ($60 a year) and entry web hosting ($30 a year) come to $96.99 for the first year, or about $8.08 a month.
Keep the domain in your name and renew on time
A common problem is a domain registered in a web designer’s or former employee’s account. If they leave, you can lose control of your website and email. Make sure the registrant is you or your business and that you hold the registrar login.
When a domain expires, the website stops loading at that address and email to it bounces. After any grace period, someone else can register the name. Tremhost’s store lists a 30-day grace period after expiry for .com, .net and .org, but none for .co.zw, so renew .co.zw names on time. Reminder emails are sent before the due date.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a .co.zw domain cost?
At Tremhost, $6.99 for the first year and $6.99 a year to renew, in US dollars.
Can an individual register a .co.zw, or only a company?
An individual can register one with a national ID and a certified ID copy or signed letter. Schools, clubs and churches should register in the organisation’s name.
How long does .co.zw registration take?
ZISPA aims to process applications within one working day once the paperwork is complete. A .com does not need paperwork.
Do I need hosting to register a domain?
No. You can register the name now and add hosting or email when you are ready, or point it at a host elsewhere.
Can I move a domain I already own to Tremhost?
Yes. For .com, .net and .org a transfer normally adds a year to the expiry date; a .com transfer is $15.99.
Next step
Search for your name, check the price for each extension and register it in your own name, paying in US dollars by EcoCash, ZimSwitch or card. Search for a .co.zw domain.
