ZIMBABWE: Police And Customs Officers Harassing Tourists

Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) has brought to the fore the impact of roadblocks on the country, with tourists alleging harassment by police at roadblocks and persecution by customs officers at points of entry.

Titled Visitor Exit Survey, ZIMSTAT was commissioned to undertake the survey by the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality.

It revealed that although the majority of the foreign tourists polled between 2015 and 2016 were generally happy to return or recommend the country, some had no kind words for Zimbabwe on account of the ill-treatment they got.

Of the 38 680 foreign tourists polled, 95 percent of them gave Zimbabwe the thumbs up.

But five percent of them were not happy with their stay.

Of the five percent, 43,2 percent said they had been harassed by the police at roadblocks, while 14,7 percent were harassed by customs officers at the 10 border posts included in the survey.

It said 8,7 percent reported that they would not return to a country where immigration officials were rough.

While five percent appears to be a small number, tourism experts said their concerns would still have serious implications on traffic into the country.

Zimbabwe ranks tourism among the major drivers of the economy along with manufacturing, agriculture and mining.

It is the first time government has commissioned a survey to gather tourist perceptions on Zimbabwe since roadblocks were intensified on major highways in 2009.

Hotels and other tourism operators have been complaining bitterly over the heavy presence of police on the country's roads.

During the review period, 80 percent of arrivals into Zimbabwe were African tourists who preferred to drive and had to endure multiple roadblocks on their way to visit key attractions.

Excessive policing on the roads has forced some tourists arriving by road to avoid Zimbabwean resorts.

For instance, some now prefer to drive into Botswana's Chobe National Park and Zambia, translating into substantial loss of revenue.

"In order to retain reputation of Zimbabwe being a hospitable nation there is need to ensure continuous training of frontline personnel who interact with visitors creating the first and last impressions on the destination such as immigration, customs and police," ZIMSTAT said in the report.

There has been a dramatic decline in tourist arrivals in most resorts such as Binga, once a prime tourist destination, mostly due to the roadblocks.

Tourism operators said government must deal with the problem now to avoid losing tourist traffic.

"We don't have to beat about the bush in terms of the damage that is done by road blocks to the product," said Zimbabwe Council of Tourism chief executive officer, Paul Matamisa.

"If you are going to Bulawayo and there are 20 roadblocks you spend time stopping on 20 roadblocks. In other countries you do not see so many roadblocks on roads to tourist resorts," he said.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority acting chief executive officer, Givemore Chidzidzi, also called upon concerned State agencies to review their conduct when dealing with tourists.

ZIMBABWE: Tourism Hurt By Too Many Police Roadblocks

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa

PLAYERS in the tourism industry have approached Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa to intervene in reducing the “too many” police roadblocks on the country’s major highways, saying they stifle free movement of local and foreign tourists.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) congress, which ends in Kariba today, HAZ president, George Manyumwa said his organisation was engaging relevant stakeholders to have the number of roadblocks reduced.

“There are too many roadblocks on our country’s roads and this is particularly not good for the hospitality and tourism industry,” he said.

“Generally, roadblocks hurt economic activity. Imagine, from Harare to Kariba it is not surprising to encounter 20 roadblocks.

“HAZ is negotiating with the police and we have also petitioned Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is seized with the issue of numerous roadblocks as well as inefficiencies at ports of entry (border posts),” Manyumwa, who is also Zimbabwe Council of Tourism vice-president, said.

Police have previously defended their heavy presence on the highways, saying this was meant to curb road carnage.

Manyumwa also said HAZ was lobbying for a special dispensation for the hospitality and tourism industry to have a reduction of value-added tax from the current 15% to 5%.

He said Statutory Instrument 64, which restricts the importation of certain classes of goods, should be an enabler for hospitality and tourism industry growth.

Manyumwa reiterated the need for a relaxation of statutory tax obligations that industry players had to pay to various government and quasi-governmental institutions.

“There is need to walk the talk regarding the ease of doing business in Zimbabwe,” the HAZ president said.

The congress, held under the theme Economic Recovery through Tourism and Hospitality, saw Manyumwa retained as HAZ president, while Innocent Manyere and Naume Size were re-elected first and second vice-president, respectively.