I have been looking at several blogs recently, and spoken to a few travellers.
This is a letter I wrote to Zim Tourism, still no response;
Hello,
I will be visiting Zim again in July. Last year in Harare I had this same experience as this gentleman below, and it seems to be widespread now according to several tourism blogs I read.
I reported the incident and the vehicle, A silver Nissan sedan ACN 9108.
Herewith the internet post I refer to:
Dear Police Commissioner,
I have just driven through Biet Bridge border post, via Masvingo to Harare and back via Bulawayo to Biet Bridge.
During my trip I had the honour of meeting our Hon Minister of Tourism (Zimbabwe) and his gracious wife.
Please understand that you have any number of police officers who are criminals.
It is their mission to prey on motorists, particularly those with foreign number plates.
I was stopped on at least five occasions. On each occasion I was accused on fatuous, trumped up transgressions, threatened with incarceration and impoundment of my car, pending Court appearance.
For instance you have a round faced individual, very brown in complexion, driving a grey sedan (looked like a Corolla) operating in Masvingo.
I was even accosted at Bon Marche on 2nd Street Extension, by 2 individuals, one in uniform and one in plain clothes.
These are not police offices. They are criminals. Their purpose is to extract "bribes" out of human beings on false charges. This is robbery in which the power of the State is being used to victimize human beings instead of protecting them.
It was the same when I visited in 2012. So you have a pathological problem.
It does not require rocket science to work out what damage this is doing to our country.
It should be easy enough to trap these criminals in "sting operations".
Wishing you and our compatriots all the very best.
Judge Chris N Greenland.
Is there a contact number and office that we can phone when this happens,
Many thanks,
John Harris
Zim Travel warning
- ChrisF
- Top Web Wheeler
- Posts: 8188
- Joined: Thu Sep 17, 2009 2:56 pm
- Town: inniedorp
- Vehicle: Toy
- Real Name: Chris
Re: Zim Travel warning
stil you continue to visit .... and feed this "system" ....
nope, I wont drive in Zim until this is sorted. Nor will I drive through Mozambique for the very same reason.
nope, I wont drive in Zim until this is sorted. Nor will I drive through Mozambique for the very same reason.
- Hangover
- LR4WD, Lockers, Crawler Gears
- Posts: 1374
- Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2011 9:55 am
- Town: Deneysville
- Vehicle: '76 FJ45 , '13 3.0 D4D Hilux
- Real Name: Stef
Re: Zim Travel warning
Mosambiek is nie so erg nie... As jy al n paar keer daar was weet jy dat jy hom nie hoef te bribe nie... Jy lat weet hom net dat hy jou volle samewerking het om jou te neem na die naaste polisie stasie om die boete te betaal dan se die aap vir jou jy kan maar ry... Werk nog elke keer en sal bly werk... Ek het 3 vreinde wat permanent werk in maputo en soveel as 5 keer n week die roetine moet volg... veral naweke en voor vakansie dae...
Hangover(A.K.A die speelding)
1976 FJ45 4x4
1UZ-FE 4.0vvti
2" OME Suspension lift
1.5" Shackle lift
35" Geo MT's
Custom Bullbar
Lockright Locked rear
York OBA
20" LED bar
Nighthawk 100W spots
Dakar
2013 3.0D-4D 4x4 Hilux Dakar
1976 FJ45 4x4
1UZ-FE 4.0vvti
2" OME Suspension lift
1.5" Shackle lift
35" Geo MT's
Custom Bullbar
Lockright Locked rear
York OBA
20" LED bar
Nighthawk 100W spots
Dakar
2013 3.0D-4D 4x4 Hilux Dakar
- WayneSchalk
- Monster Truck
- Posts: 2139
- Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2009 10:22 am
- Town: Krugersdorp
- Vehicle: 2019 Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD-6 4X4 DC Auto
- Real Name: Wayne
- Club VHF Licence: X117
Re: Zim Travel warning
Ek stem met jou, daai twee lande sal my nie gou weer sien nie. Dit is jammer, maar ek wil gaan om te ontspan, nie om oor sluke k a a a a k te bekommer nie.ChrisF wrote:still you continue to visit .... and feed this "system" ....
nope, I wont drive in Zim until this is sorted. Nor will I drive through Mozambique for the very same reason.
- Toppie4x4
- LR 4WD Full Lockers
- Posts: 836
- Joined: Sat Apr 06, 2013 3:38 pm
- Town: Centurion
- Vehicle: Hilux 4.0 V6 DC 4x4
- Real Name: Andre
Re: Zim Travel warning
Het geen begeerte om Mozambique of Zimbabwe te besoek nie, baie beter lande en plekke om te besoek, en moenie ons eie land vergeet nie. Het besluit ek sal eers die buurlande weer besoek sodra ek al ons eie plekke gesien het.
- ChrisF
- Top Web Wheeler
- Posts: 8188
- Joined: Thu Sep 17, 2009 2:56 pm
- Town: inniedorp
- Vehicle: Toy
- Real Name: Chris
Re: Zim Travel warning
Met ons Botswana trip het ons niks van die snert ervaar nie.
In Kasane het ons n dagtrip gevat na Victoria Valle - maar ons het dit met n torbussie gedoen. PUIK ondervinding gewees !!
en dan sien jy hoe die locals die toeriste uitbuit. Die reen jasse word teen buitensporige pryse verhuur, dan stap die toergids nader en die prysse VAL. By die Valle se ingang word almal die Europese tarief aangeslaan - dan wys ons toergids ons SA paspoorte en jy kry die SADC prys ...
nee wat, om elke hoek en draai buit hulle die toeriste uit ....
In Kasane het ons n dagtrip gevat na Victoria Valle - maar ons het dit met n torbussie gedoen. PUIK ondervinding gewees !!
en dan sien jy hoe die locals die toeriste uitbuit. Die reen jasse word teen buitensporige pryse verhuur, dan stap die toergids nader en die prysse VAL. By die Valle se ingang word almal die Europese tarief aangeslaan - dan wys ons toergids ons SA paspoorte en jy kry die SADC prys ...
nee wat, om elke hoek en draai buit hulle die toeriste uit ....
-
- High Range 4WD
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Wed May 30, 2012 2:44 pm
- Town: Durban
- Vehicle: hilux 4x4 KZTE
- Real Name: John
Re: Zim Travel warning
Received this mail today;
GENERAL INFORMATION.
To all visitors and persons involved in tourism in Zimbabwe.
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority have staff stationed at the Beitbridge border specifically to assist any visitors or tourists coming into Zimbabwe.
They are positioned at the end of the bridge in the car park as you cross into Zim, and will assist you right through the border, sorting out all the formalities, Road toll, Customs, Road tax, Immigration, Visas, Interpol, etc. and then see you right through to the exit gate, they will handle everything for you at absolutely no charge whatsoever.
That is their job and they are very proud of it, and it is to show the tourist that you can enter Zim without any problems and at no unforeseen costs.
I have personally used them and they were really friendly and gave a fantastic service, well worth using.
The Area Manager is Bertha Mutowembwa on 00263-286-23640/1 office, or 00263-772 344317 or 00263-712 320428 email. berthamuto@gmail.com and the Marketing Executive is Lindarose Ntuli on 00263-772 409373 or the above office No. email. lindarosentuli@gmail.com
All you have to do is drop them a mail the day before you expect to cross and then phone them before you cross over and they will meet you at the bridge to sort you out.
GENERAL INFORMATION.
To all visitors and persons involved in tourism in Zimbabwe.
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority have staff stationed at the Beitbridge border specifically to assist any visitors or tourists coming into Zimbabwe.
They are positioned at the end of the bridge in the car park as you cross into Zim, and will assist you right through the border, sorting out all the formalities, Road toll, Customs, Road tax, Immigration, Visas, Interpol, etc. and then see you right through to the exit gate, they will handle everything for you at absolutely no charge whatsoever.
That is their job and they are very proud of it, and it is to show the tourist that you can enter Zim without any problems and at no unforeseen costs.
I have personally used them and they were really friendly and gave a fantastic service, well worth using.
The Area Manager is Bertha Mutowembwa on 00263-286-23640/1 office, or 00263-772 344317 or 00263-712 320428 email. berthamuto@gmail.com and the Marketing Executive is Lindarose Ntuli on 00263-772 409373 or the above office No. email. lindarosentuli@gmail.com
All you have to do is drop them a mail the day before you expect to cross and then phone them before you cross over and they will meet you at the bridge to sort you out.
- george
- Monster Truck
- Posts: 6565
- Joined: Wed May 23, 2007 11:16 am
- Town: Velddrif
- Vehicle: Triton 3.5l V6
- Real Name: George
- Club VHF Licence: HC107
- Location: Velddrif
- Contact:
Re: Zim Travel warning
Thanx John
This is excellent news
This is excellent news
"The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.-Saint Augustine"