Zimbabwe has been experiencing civil unrest and political instability for most of modern history. As a result of price increases, inflation and the most recent internet shutdown in the country, various protests by citizens have broken out, and police and authoritative figures have retaliated with acts of violence. Here is some advice if you are in Zimbabwe currently or will be visiting it in the near future.
Travellers currently in Zimbabwe (particularly the cities of Harare and the southern city of Bulawayo) should exercise caution and avoid all protests and large gatherings of people. This is advice from Corporate Traveller, a division of the Flight Centre Travel Group, in light of the recent unrest in the nation.
Oz Desai, General Manager of Corporate Traveller in South Africa, says many shops and businesses are currently closed as a result of the unrest, particularly in the capital of Harare. He adds that although Internet access has been restored, access to some social media sites has been disrupted across Zimbabwe. The UK Foreign Travel Advice has therefore warned that travellers should not solely rely on particular apps for communication, as these may be blocked.
‘Travellers should follow the advice of the local authorities and minimise any unnecessary travel. Although the airport in Harare is open and operating, people should only travel there if it is safe to do so,’ he says.
Desai adds that travellers in Zimbabwe should note international debit cards are blocked from making cash withdrawals from ATMS due to the national cash crisis. ‘Travellers should remember to take sufficient cash to cover their needs for the duration of their stay,’ he says.
