This is from an email that I received. This guy probably stuck out like most tourist which is why he got hammered at so many road blocks. Ready to see that country turn around.



Road Users Association

October 7 at 5:53pm ·


Good day. I have been advised to write to you and express my disgust towards the Zim Police ..A group of us have just spent two weeks in Zim..I entered at the Kasane Border post on way to vic falls. Within two killos from the border in Zim I was stopped and fined $20 for a tail light on my trailer that was not working. New 4 x 4 Trailer ..everything was working fine, When I argued with the guy he wanted my passport and drivers licence and mentioned that things are going to get a lot worse for me if I don’t pay. I then paid the $20 but already had put a damper on the vacation. Stayed at Vic falls for a few days and then opted to go via Zambia to Kariba as driving through Zim would be a nightmare with cops .. The trip was good except for a stretch of highway that is very bad. Came into Kariba Border post.. all three vehicles ... when was told to go to Interpol ..they said if I buy them all drinks they won’t search my vehicle... I declined politely. Two guys dressed in Plain clothes then wanted to search my Landy. They refused to show me any Identification. Delayed my trip by over half an hour, was not pleasant all the time angling for a bribe.

Spent some time on a house boat then went to Mana. Decided to drive back towards Plumtree Border as the road in Zambia was very bad MISTAKE - 22 road blocks. some were fine. Past Chinhoyi I was on a decline doing 60..NO road markings and HUGE pot holes on the left. I moved over to avoid a HUGE pothole and was then stopped ..FOR DRIVING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD..I pointed out that the Pothole was way too big ..he said I should stop and negotiate it better. Fined again. At Gweru I stopped at a traffic light ..A government vehicle drove straight through. A cop appeared and said to me my tyres were on the white line and this is illegal. He pulled me over, took my licence and then got very clever, said he was going o take my licence and go see his Boss.. at this stage I was running late for the border, which I explained to him.. He demanded $20 and said if I don’t hurry and move things are going to escalate and I could end up in jail. He never gave me a fine, just kept the $20....I did not want to take it further.

These are just a few incidents ... I was told that my arm was not allowed to rest on the window..$20..My windscreen to dirty, etc., etc. Please could you let this be known … we spent over R300 000,00 on this trip.. In Zim.. Believe me,NONE of us will ever EVER go back to that country. I have written to all the travel agents that I am in contact with and 4 x 4 clubs, warning them and advising them to rather avoid Zim all together as it is so corrupt.. Totally disappointed with the affairs in a once a stunning country.

Not that different in the USA ... around here the small town cops sit out on I20 trapping ... you can add a zero to the fine though.

Two things the gov't does well ... issuing traffic fines and collecting taxes ... when it comes to fixing roads/bridges, preventing terrorist attacks, or stopping riots, not so much.

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Gould:
Not that different in the USA ... around here the small town cops sit out on I20 trapping ... you can add a zero to the fine though.

Two things the gov't does well ... issuing traffic fines and collecting taxes ... when it comes to fixing roads/bridges, preventing terrorist attacks, or stopping riots, not so much.

I have been stopped a couple of times in small town USA, over the limit twice,but getting the shake down in a third world country just does not even come close,it's a horrible experience to endure,no rights at all :thumb down:

Guys,

I may take some flack for this but I think I would have expected nothing less than the experience this South African had in Zim. Unescorted and with a foreign license plate makes you a target. I've literally driven all over Zim with a PH. We usually are not even required to stop at the road blocks and when we are stopped there's usually a cordial exchange and a couple of times the PH gave the cop a Coke. Big deal! I'm not saying it's right that this guy was targeted for multiple bribes but it's part of the experience in today's Zimbabwe.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Guys,

I may take some flack for this but I think I would have expected nothing less than the experience this South African had in Zim. Unescorted and with a foreign license plate makes you a target. I've literally driven all over Zim with a PH. We usually are not even required to stop at the road blocks and when we are stopped there's usually a cordial exchange and a couple of times the PH gave the cop a Coke. Big deal! I'm not saying it's right that this guy was targeted for multiple bribes but it's part of the experience in today's Zimbabwe.

Mark

Agree Mark. Carry some 20's and be done with it and consider it a toll. The Police get paid peanuts and have families to support from what we call 'go faster money'.

Cheers

I hear what you guys are saying. However, Zim is a total disaster. They need all of the tourism dollars they can get for the good of the country's economy. This does not seem like a very good idea.

We went from Bulawayo to the BVC and back in July. We encountered many roadblocks. I am trying to remember if we got stopped at all.

I went from Bulawayo to Bishopstone (across from the BVC) and back to Bulawayo in August of this year and saw a number of roadblocks, but we were never stopped. I attribute that to the fact that I was either in a hunting vehicle with my PH driving, or in a Zim registered vehicle with the Bishopstone Manager's wife driving it. But I do agree with Larry that Zimbabwe is becoming a total disaster again.

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Guys,

I may take some flack for this but I think I would have expected nothing less than the experience this South African had in Zim. Unescorted and with a foreign license plate makes you a target. I've literally driven all over Zim with a PH. We usually are not even required to stop at the road blocks and when we are stopped there's usually a cordial exchange and a couple of times the PH gave the cop a Coke. Big deal! I'm not saying it's right that this guy was targeted for multiple bribes but it's part of the experience in today's Zimbabwe.

Mark

Mark,
We were 0 for 9 on the roadblocks from Harare to to the camp. 2 for 5 on the way back. We were let go at one with no fine the second wrote the driver a ticket claiming the leaf springs were separating. I was told later that $10 would have made the problem go away. I had a $10 bill ready but we never got stopped again. From what I heard in camp it is status quo for the Zim police.

John

Drove from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls in 2014. Besides border post, I think we only went through about five road blocks. I spent most of that summer in the Matetsi and the buggy had a very noticeable windshield that was cracked. Never once did I get a shakedown.

You want to see a real shakedown. Come on an offshore trip with me when the US Coast Guard pulls up to board you. They have their M16 locked and loaded and someone is behind the mechanical machine gun on the bow. You know that they can turn your fiberglass boat into popcorn in no time.
They are not quite as bad a OSHA but the smallest fine that they give is $500. It can cost you a few grand for something simple.

Yes the "rule of law" can easily morph into a police state on a small or large scale. Thankfully we do have a constitution in the USA and that's the ultimate check and balance.

Everyone knows the speed limit in Zim is $20.

Jeff

I've thought for years this would be a great situation to spend counterfeit $20 bills.
Cal

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
I've thought for years this would be a great situation to spend counterfeit $20 bills.
Cal

Inflation has hit Zim. When I was there in 2008, the checkpoint instant fines were $5.

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana Bunduki:
Everyone knows the speed limit in Zim is $20.

Jeff

Unfortunately there are some government officials that try to threaten delays and "problems" that all then go away if you have something for them.

I got the same at passport control at Lagos Airport in 2015. If i wanted more than three weeks on my permitted stay it would cost Us $100.00.

When I suggested that I wanted four weeks and if not I'd raise the matter back with the Minister at the Nigeria Embassy on Paris on my return the "fee" was waived.

Same coming back with my, Nigerian, wife. Row at customs over some modern made bronze figures. That these were prohibited and etc..

So I just took out the e-mail I'd received there from the Minister at the Paris Embassy inviting my wife and myself to tea on our return.

Inviting the three customs men to let me know their names so I could explain to the Minister why his present that I had purchased for him was still at Lagos Airport.

The bag was zipped back up and we were told that it wouldn't even be needed to examine the other three bags.

OTOH at the last checkpoint the officer was up front enough to simply ask "What have you got for me?". No pretence of checks nor controls.

That's good, honest, up front corruption that you don't actually mind. So I just said if 1000 Naira was Ok and he agreed with a smile. It is about US $ 15.00.

But you know what? These guys that hassle you as they do it for dash, a bribe, I don't have a problem with. They aren't being nasty. They are just supplementing their income.

It is my, Britain's, border officers who hassle you just because they are little jobsworth wannabe Hitlers and Himmlers. I'm sure you've the same in the USA.

quote:

Originally posted by enfieldspares:

It is my, Britain's, border officers who hassle you just because they are little jobsworth wannabe Hitlers and Himmlers. I'm sure you've the same in the USA.

We have a plethora of them.

http://www.zimbabwesituation.c...oadblocks-ministers/



Stop harassing tourists at roadblocks: Ministers


November 3, 2017 10:02 AM
Source: Stop harassing tourists at roadblocks: Ministers | The Herald November 3, 2017



Tendai Mugabe and Nyemudzai Kakore—

Government has condemned needless detention of motorists at roadblocks saying such behaviour affects the image of the country as a tourist destination. Addressing delegates at the inaugural tourism security and enablers conference in Harare yesterday, Home Affairs Minister Dr Obert Mpofu said he had witnessed several incidences where foreign vehicles were subjected to needless interrogation at roadblocks.

He said in other countries foreigners were treated as important visitors. In the same breath, Dr Mpofu said he was aware of some unruly and overzealous police officers, who treated motorists indifferently at roadblocks adding that disciplinary action would continue to be taken against such elements. “I have stopped at roadblocks with foreign vehicles being subjected to a lot of questioning,” he said.


“That does not give us a good image as a destination for tourism. We can try to please each other by wrong statistics, but the end result is that you are not attracting investment. We can deal with each other as locals, but when it comes to outsiders, let’s behave differently. There can be issues of impropriety, but you cannot punish tourists on the basis of that. We need to improve our systems.

“Politics yes, but we are tired of politics. Yes, I am a politician, but let’s allow those that want to create an environment that is successful economically to do those things.” Dr Mpofu said Government would continue to do everything in its capacity to ensure free movement of people and goods by ensuring that police officers adhere to the police charter.

“We are, however, aware of some unpalatable incidences where some of our members, especially police at roadblocks and traffic enforcements, have acted indifferently and contrary to the code of ethics and discipline when dealing with the motoring public that include tourists,” he said.

“Members who have flouted standing instructions have been and shall be subjected to the Police Disciplinary Code and in certain circumstances discharged from the service. In equal measure, corrupt, uncouth and ill-disciplined members have not escaped the wrath of the Police Code of Conduct.”

Dr Mpofu said it was such isolated cases of indiscipline that were tainting the good image of the police force. By 2020, Dr Mpofu said, the Zimbabwe Republic Police aimed at building total confidence by both domestic and foreign tourists in the country’s tourism sector.

Addressing the same gathering, Tourism, Hospitality Industry and Environment Minister Edgar Mbwembwe said difficulties such as perceived harassment at roadblocks, delays at immigration, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and poor state of the roads should be addressed to increase tourist arrivals. He said this was despite an International Visitor Exit Survey conducted by his ministry and ZIMSTAT affirming that over 90 percent of tourists would return or recommend Zimbabwe to other potential tourists.

“It is such feedback that should ensure dialogue as we are doing today to ensure we take corrective action where possible and come up with innovative solutions,” he said.

“I must hasten to point out that most stakeholders from the industry believe that investment in e-policing initiatives could go a long way in curbing the excesses of some perceived harassment at roadblocks.” Minister Mbwembwe said to improve on the ease of doing business, he wanted to see automated systems in place within 100 days in all parastatals under his purview.

To achieve a $5 billion tourism economy by the year 2025, Minister Mbwembwe said Government needed to facilitate tourism friendly policies that attract high spending tourists.

“The main instruments for achieving the $5 billion tourism economy will be increased investment incentives and conducive investment climate to promote investment in the identified Tourism Development Zones, plugging tourism leakages and enchanted capacity to measure tourism growth through development of a tourism satellite account.”

Here's my solution to bribes...


https://www.amazon.com/Play-Mo...=fake+movie+money+20

Better not be the second guy to pass fake money as a bribe.

Dave

Sounds like a good time and place to do a bit
of recording without being obvious about it.
THen send it in to this guy in Kathi's post.

Kathi: how about providing his mailing info too.?

Thanks, best wishes to all.

What I've run into here in the states mostly are half block speed traps with small signs hard to see. Re: 287 thru Texas!!

George

On 4 trips to Zima, everyone at the roadblocks was civil or friendly. Never got asked for a bribe, did get asked if I enjoyed the hunting and would I return. Only got asked for a bribe at Bulawayo airport for " extra careful handling of your rifles, Sir" and that came to about $7.00 if I recall. The request was so clever and ingratiating, I almost laughed and shook his hand.
BTW, they were very careful with the rifle case. I told my wife I'd pay $50.00 in the US for that kind of service.

My PHs were fined for minor/made up issues on both of my Zim trips.

My favorite was the 20 fine for having the exhaust pipes on the incorrect side of the truck, and the "failed parking break" we were cited for because the truck rocked on the frame when the cop pushed on the bumper.

The most ironic though was the time they waived us through without stopping even though the car alarm was stuck on and blaring as we drove by.

And they are OCD on the reflective tape on the bumpers... too much, not enough, tape too thin, tape does not have diamonds in it... that was the one that cause my PH to nearly loose it! I guess each station is different. It's is chasing a moving target.

As I get older I have less patience with bribes and scams.

As much as I love the Zim bush, it is looking more and more like my next buff will be in RSA or Namibia.

BH63