SERIES PREVIEW: Aussies take on South Africa, Zimbabwe
Clarke's side left Sydney on Wednesday for their triangular one-day international (ODI) series against Zimbabwe and South Africa, held in Harare.
Australia have not played in Zimbabwe since 2004, while they have only faced them twice since then in South Africa and India, with the African country's autocratic regime - led by Robert Mugabe - ruining the country's economy and by extension their cricket team.
Speaking at Sydney International Airport, Clarke denied Australia were interested in anything other than victory in Zimbabwe.
"It's not a token tour - it's about winning," he said.
Injured all-rounder Shane Watson and explosive opening batsman David Warner, whose girlfriend is expecting a child, have been left out of Australia's squad, giving the likes of Phil Hughes, Mitch Marsh and Kane Richardson an opportunity to impress.
But Clarke rebuffed claims he saw the tour as an audition for next year's ICC World Cup, which will be held in Australia from February to March.
"The selectors, with [coach] Darren Lehmann, will come up with what they feel is the best 11," the 33-year-old said.
"But I'm certainly not there to give guys an opportunity - I'm there to win."
Clarke did admit, however, that someone like Hughes, who has not played for Australia since 2013, or Richardson, who has only one ODI to his name, might be looking at the tournament, which starts on August 25, as a chance to prove themselves.
"I think they'll be seeing it as an opportunity to be part of our one-day team; to try and get their foot in the door, cement their spot and make it hard for the players that aren't on this tour to get back into the team," he said.