Source: Police should stop abusing foreigners — Mnangagwa – Sunday News Sep 18, 2016
Munyaradzi Musiiwa, Midlands Correspondent
ACTING President Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa has rapped the police for the way some of them treat foreigners particularly those that travel in foreign registered vehicles as this gives a wrong picture and perception to investors and tourists about the country.
Addressing captains of industry during the official opening of Golden Mile Hotel in Kwekwe yesterday, Acting President Mnangagwa said there was a need to sensitise and educate police officers and Government officials at all border posts and other ports of entry as well as along major highways to treat foreigners with respect as this would enhance the ease of doing business.
He said corruption among Government officials, particularly those manning ports of entry and border posts had been a major cause for concern.
“The success of the tourism sector is largely a function of related ministries such as the Home Affairs, Transport and Infrastructural Development. It is therefore important that these ministries play their part in a way that enhances business.
“Unfortunately this has not always been the case as most of the time visitors have been delayed at border posts with further delays taking place at roadblocks. They struggle to drive through the country. We need to sensitise our people at the borders on how to handle visitors. Visitors should feel comfortable and that they are wanted in Zimbabwe.
“We need to sensitise police officers that when they see a foreigner or foreign registration number they should think in their minds that they are seeing an investor, not somebody who has come to finish their food. There have been allegations of bribery and corruption by Government officials further eroding the image of the country in the eyes of the visitors,” he said.
Cde Mnangagwa said there was also a need for other sectors of the economy to use denominated prices that encompass all currencies in the region particularly the South African rand as this would ease the liquidity crunch and also make business competitive.
“I am happy to note that the tourism and hospitality industry was the first to appreciate that the US dollar denominated pricing model does not work in the regional competitive market such as ours. Therefore, in order to match our brothers and sisters in the region they have to peg their prices in rand. To remain competitive all sorts of business and sectors of the economy should adopt the rand denominated pricing,” he said.
Cde Mnangagwa said the Government had allocated 378 ha of land to the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Management as it sought to promote tourism by improving infrastructure and make the country globally competitive in terms of hospitality.
“I am advised that 378 (ha) has have been allocated to the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Management so that they can also expand their facilities in Victoria Falls,” he said.
Golden Mile owner and managing director Mr Solomon Matsa said the hotel was aiming for three or four stars in terms of customer service ratings.
COMMENTS
Well Emmerson must know all about corruption!
An interesting insight into a sick mind – treat foreigners with respect, but f*** Zimbabwean dogs into the ground. And he doesn’t even see the significance of his utterances, or have the intelligence to be more circumspect.
Correct. There is an admission of guilt in the statement that the ZRP and the army may do just as they like to the local civilian population – like murder 20 000 of them for a state planned policy like the Gukuruhundi.
ZRP is seen by the powers that be as a source of revenue therefore the policy of “policing for profit”. The policemen at roadblocks are given targets to achieve and they will extract money from you irregardless of weather an offence has been committed or not. Failure to do so will lead to disciplinary action from their employer. This is no excuse but a living example of our preditary state
Stupid!!! After one Judge said Spot fine were illegal what did ED say? Is he not the one who said spot fines should continue? Anyone failing to see the connection between spot fines and the behavior of the police is a BIG fool and is not fit for being a VP let alone acting Prez!!
Oh an admission of the truth from the top! Easy pickings. Only fools mainly from SAfrica are stupid enough to embark on a journey into the unknown of a country in ruins to be robbed and cheated at road blocks for what – to earn a few pennies but then I suppose when you have no food on the table you need to rob someone, be it your own kin and fleece the visitor and give some of the pickings to your boss.
It’s a great way to attract visitors – keep up the good work and stay hungry!
Zimbabwe is off the menu as far as I am concerned. As a tourist there are far friendlier countries to visit.
What about us the locals ? Hatina basa ?
Yes let’s not harass tourists, there’s only one Victoria falls only one Gona rezhou and one Rhodes grave @ matopos. So please let’s be friendly and keep loving our visitors coz they have no choice but to come to Zimbabwe. There are worse hot spots around the world but tourist go there immediately after bombing suspect and distabunces, Zimbabwe is so peaceful and beautiful compared to all these countries, so let’s just encourage a few improvements in our course of doing business.