Zimbabwe's spinners sparked a West Indies collapse on day one of the first Test, with the tourists collapsing to 219 all out in their first innings after being 3-174.
Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer took 4-64 and fellow slow bowler Sean Williams 3-20 as West Indies lost its last seven wickets for 45 runs after deciding to bat first at Queens Sports Club.
Shai Hope was 90 not out and denied a century when he ran out of partners. Opener Kieran Powell made 56.
Zimbabwe was 0-19 at stumps, with Solomon Mire hitting two fours and a six and racing to 17 off 18 balls on his debut.
West Indies looked solid with Hope part of partnerships of 75 with Powell and 64 with Roston Chase (31).
But Cremer and Williams found turn and bounce on the pitch in Bulawayo to give Zimbabwe an early advantage in the first of two Tests.
