Story by Online Reporter
THE Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Honourable Barbara Rwodzi, has acknowledged and addressed concerns raised by a group of foreign tourists following the wrongful arrest of one of their members in Chimanimani over a traffic-related misunderstanding.
In a swift response aimed at safeguarding Zimbabwe’s tourism image, Minister Rwodzi travelled to Chimanimani, where she was joined by the newly appointed Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive, Dr George Manyaya. The engagement reflects Government’s hands-on approach and commitment to addressing concerns affecting visitors to the country.
The tourist had been detained after being accused of failing to comply with a road safety requirement relating to the number of reflective warning triangles in his vehicle. It later emerged that the matter was based on a misunderstanding, as the alleged anomaly does not constitute a violation under prevailing standards.
The incident attracted widespread attention on social media, prompting an immediate intervention by the Ministry to mitigate any potential reputational damage to Zimbabwe’s tourism sector.
At the time of the incident, the tourist was participating in the “ZimBho” domestic tourism campaign, an initiative that encourages both locals and international visitors to explore Zimbabwe’s diverse tourism offerings.
In a statement, the tourist expressed admiration for Zimbabwe and its people, describing his experiences as positive and marked by warmth and hospitality. He said the “ZimBho” campaign had inspired his travels and noted that he had been documenting his journey to share with a global audience.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) issued a statement clarifying the circumstances surrounding the arrest. The police acknowledged that the incident resulted from a misunderstanding and said the officer involved had acted overzealously.
Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that law enforcement practices align with the country’s broader objective of promoting Zimbabwe as a welcoming and safe tourism destination.
