Nineteen-year-old Luke Jongwe was the most eye-catching selection, as the all-rounder capped an excellent year that saw him impress at both the Under-19 World Cup and with Zimbabwe's A side.
Seamer Neville Madziva was the other player to make his first appearance at international level, while offspinner John Nyumbu made his one-day debut after recording a five-wicket haul on his Test debut last weekend.
The hosts were given a much-needed advantage when Elton Chigumbura began his second stint as captain by winning the toss and opting to bowl under cloudy skies.
The early starts in Zimbabwean one-day internationals traditionally give plenty of assistance to the side bowling first.
Meanwhile Faf du Plessis was named at number three for South Africa following the retirement of Jacques Kallis, and seamers Kyle Abbott and Wayne Parnell were preferred to Marchant de Lange and Mtohokozisi Shezi.
Teams
Zimbabwe: Vusimuzi Sibanda, Richmond Mutumbami, Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams, Elton Chigumbura (capt), Luke Jongwe, Prosper Utseya, John Nyumbu, Shingirai Masakadza, Neville Madziva.
South Africa: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (capt), JP Duminy, David Miller, Ryan McLaren, Wayne Parnell, Kyle Abbott, Aaron Phangiso, Imran Tahir.