Like South Africa, Zimbabwe also played at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games earlier this year, but were no match for coach Desiree Ellis’s rampant side on her debut leading the team after taking over from Vera Pauw.
A brace of goals from Thembi Kgatlana and a further strike via Leandra Smeda gave Banyana the win as they build up to the continental championships that will be hosted by Cameroon from November 19.
South Africa will meet Zimbabwe again in the pool stages of that competition, along with their hosts and Egypt.
Banyana have never won the African women’s Championship before having now qualified for 10 straight tournament finals.