Rwodzi addresses arrest involving foreign visitor

Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Barbara Rwodzi has moved to address concerns raised by a group of foreign tourists following the wrongful arrest of one of their members in Chimanimani, an incident stemming from a traffic-related misunderstanding.

In a bid to safeguard Zimbabwe's tourism image, Minister Rwodzi travelled to Chimanimani, accompanied by newly appointed Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive Dr George Manyaya. The visit underscored Government's commitment to promptly resolving issues affecting visitors to the country.

The tourist was briefly detained after being accused of failing to comply with a road safety requirement relating to the number of reflective warning triangles in his vehicle. Authorities later established that the issue was based on a misunderstanding, as the alleged irregularity does not constitute an offence under existing regulations.

The incident gained traction on social media, prompting swift intervention by the Ministry amid concerns over possible reputational damage to Zimbabwe's tourism sector.

At the time, the tourist was taking part in the "ZimBho" domestic tourism campaign, an initiative aimed at encouraging both locals and international visitors to explore the country's tourism offerings.

In a statement, the tourist praised Zimbabwe and its people, describing his experience as positive and characterised by warmth and hospitality. He said the ZimBho campaign had inspired his travels and noted that he had been documenting his journey for a global audience.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) issued a statement acknowledging that the arrest resulted from a misunderstanding, adding that the officer involved had acted overzealously.

Authorities reiterated their commitment to ensuring that law enforcement conduct supports the national objective of positioning Zimbabwe as a safe, welcoming and tourist-friendly destination.