Zimbabwe in univisa talks

Talks for the implementation of a univisa pilot project between Zimbabwe and Zambia have been set in motion with officials from the two countries expressing optimism that the development will boost tourist arrivals for both countries.

The successful hosting of the UNWTO in August last year where delegates were given a univisa and were able to cross from Zimbabwe to Zambia without any hustles, paved the way for the implementation of a univisa between the two countries.

Talks for the implementation of the pilot project are currently underway in Harare with technical teams from Zimbabwe and Zambia engaging each other to come up with modalities of how the pilot project will be implemented.

Zambian Tourism and Arts ministry Permanent Secretary, Stephen Mwansa said the univisa pilot project has the blessings of President Robert Mugabe and President Michael Sata and if properly implemented, tourist arrivals in both countries will increase.

"The univisa pilot project is a welcome development and we are sure that tourists will come to the two countries at ease and this will market our destinations," said Mr Mwansa.

Immigration Principal Director, Mr Clemence Masango could not be drawn into disclosing the exact dates when the univisa will be introduced.

He, however, said after the series of meetings to put modalities in place are over the univisa is expected to start working.

"This is the first of the series of meetings that we are going to be having so we cannot disclose the exact date but we can assure you that before next year," Mr Masango.

Victoria Falls and Kazungula border posts have been identified as the entry points where the pilot project will be first introduced.