Term paper on Welcome to Zimbabw

Information about the Tour Operator:

We, in the profoundest and sincerest of terms, would like to welcome you to the beautiful, naturally gifted and one of the most blessed countries present on the face of the globe- Zimbabwe . Hopefully it would be the most memorable and cherishing experience of your life and perhaps can easily be regarded as a near trip to the heavens.

In the following lines we would like to give a brief introduction of the services we offer to foreign tourists as well as local adventurers:

We are rated amongst the finest hotel operators of Zimbabwe and also provide all sorts of traveling services both across as well as outside the country and too at the most competitive and economical of prices. Our head office is located in the heart of the capital city Harare which makes it all the more easy for tourists to gather all types of information from government offices regarding laws and regulations, visa issues, information crime rate, no-go areas etc. Thus we have all what you may desire of. Lastly, we would once again welcome you into Zimbabwe and wish you a fascinating journey.

Historical Background and Present Scenario:

The modern Zimbabwe was home to some of the most complex civilizations known to the African history in the period between the 13 th and 14 th century. It was mainly inhabited by the people belonging to the bloodline of the Bantu Tribe who migrated to this country in the early 10 th century. The country’s first interaction with the Europeans came about in the 15 th century by the virtue of the Portuguese. The Portuguese enjoyed reasonably affable and friendly relations with Zimbabwe for over a fair period of time. Their primary interest was in ensuring and maintaining a smooth flow of information across their colonies namely Angola and Mozambique that were situated on either side of Zimbabwe . However, in the year 1830 tensions and political turmoil began to grip the country when the massive number of Ndebele immigrants started flooding the country. By the end of the century they became successful in systematically taking over the reins of the country by enslaving the local Shonu population.


From thereon events and circumstances took a different turn and a new generation of colonists made their entry in Zimbabwe. This new breed was driven was led by a man called Cecil Rhodes who ran the famous British South Africa Company (BSAC). Rhodes came to Zimbabwe for the purpose of tapping and exploiting the rich and abundant natural resources which the country proudly boasted. Mesmerized and enthralled as they were, after observing the promise the prospects that Zimbabwe’s (political, cultural, economical, etc.) environment offered they could not resist the temptation of taking over the country. They eventually did that and named it as “ Southern Rhodesia” until the year 1923 when it formally came under the shadow of the British colonial rule. The advent of the colonial rule ignited the start of a very tense and unstable political environment. The indigenous population in its attempt to get rid of the oppressive colonial launched a strong offensive against the colonists. This civil war continued for quite a number of years and then finally ended in the year 1980 with the granting of independence and holding of general elections which were decisively won by Robert Mugabe’s ZANU party.

Though the imperialists were successfully driven out of the country but the dream of a peaceful and stable Zimbabwe is yet to see the daylight. Since its independence there has been significant political disharmony among the masses with different factions desperately contending for control of the country. Today Zimbabwe is certainly in a wanting state with its economy shattered, raging epidemics, severe and widespread famine and an unfavorable international reputation due to a brutal land redistribution program; Zimbabwe definitely seeks huge reforms in almost all aspects of national development.

Country Profile:
Location: Zimbabwe is a non-coastal country located in the south-central part of the African Continent. It is sandwiched by two rivers namely Zambezi River in the North and Limpopo River to the south. It shares borders with Mozambique from the north to the east, Zambia to the northwest and north, Botswana to the southwest while with South Africa it shares the southern border.

Area and Population: Its total area is estimated to be 390,757 square kilometers while the total population figure according to the 1997 census stands at 11,789,274. The population density is 30.2/ square kilometer. The country’s capital is Harare- a classical blend of impeccable natural beauty and contemporary architecture. The population of the city as per the United Nations projection made in the year 2000 is 1,752,000.

Language, Religion, Government: The official language of the country is English and Shona and Ndebele are the main dialects. Majority of the population is composed of Christians however minorities include Muslims, Jews and Hindus. According to certain sources the division of population in terms of religious diversity is given as 50% syncretic, 25% Christian, 24% indigenous beliefs, 1% Muslim and other. The full name of the country is Republic of Zimbabwe. The form of Government is parliamentary democracy with President Robert Mugabe serving as Head of Government since 1980 and Head of State since the year 1987.

GDP, Inflation, Major Industries and Trading Partners:

The Gross Domestic Product of Zimbabwe is estimated to be US $27 billion, with GDP per capita share resting at US $2000. Zimbabwe has to its credit a soaring inflation rate of 465%. The major industries of this country are Agriculture, Clothing, Tourism and Mining etc. while the most prominent trading partners worth mentioning are South Africa , UK , Argentina and United states .

Time, Weights and Measures and Electricity: the local time can calculate by adding a couple of hours in the Greenwich Mean Time. The standard measuring units for weight are Metric. The electric power is 220 Volts that run on 50 Hertz. The main plug types used are round pins with ground and rectangular blade plug.

Communications, Press and Radio: For telephonic services, the country code of Zimbabwe is 263; where as the code for outgoing international calls is 110. Full IDD is also available. The mobile phone network is not as spreading as one would desire it to be. The major operators are Econet and Telecal Zimbabwe which cover only the urban population areas. In Zimbabwe there is GSM 900 network.The most widely available form of communication in the country is Fax.. Prominent ISPs of the country include Africa Online ( www.africaonline.com), Data Control, InterData and M-web Zimbabwe (website: www.mweb.co.zw). The facility of Telegram is available at post offices and all major hotels.

The main English dailies include The Chronicle, The Financial Gazette, The Herald and The Sunday Mail. BBC World Service ( www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) are the two most noted radio services available in Zimbabwe, however, the frequencies keep on altering every now and again and therefore exact information can be located over the Internet.

Climatic Conditions: The factors of Altitude and relief are the key determinants of temperature and rainfall in Zimbabwe. The temperature range on the High Veld varies from 12 - 13°C (55°F) in winter and 24°C (75°F) in summer. While, on the Low Veld the temperatures are usually 5.5°C (10°F) higher, and summer temperatures in the Zambezi and Limpopo valleys average between 32C - 38°C (90 - 100°F). The higher areas in the east are cooler than the lower areas because the Higher Veld receives more rainfall. The amount of Rainfall decreases as we move from the east to west. However, the south and southwest receive modest showers. Cyclic shortages of water are a frequent phenomenon of the country. The summer rainy season continues from November to March which is then followed by a transitional season that is characterized by reduction in rainfall as well as temperatures. From that point and onwards a rather cool and dry season starts that prevails from the middle of May to the middle of August. Lastly comes the dry seasons which waits until the showers.

Money: The currency of Zimbabwe is referred as Zimbabwe Dollar (Z$) which is equivalent to 100 cents. The currency notes are found in denominations of Z$500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2. Loose change are in denominations of Z$5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 cents. All m ajor foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks and major hotels at the official exchange rate. The major debit and credit cards in use are American Express, Diners Club and Visa, whilst MasterCard has a limited usage. Some ATMs accept credit cards. It is advised that to avoid exchange rate charges visitors carry travellers cheques in US dollars and Pound Sterling. To give the reader some idea of the exchange rate movements in the last couple of years, the following table is cited:

Date

Feb ’03

May ’03

Aug ’03

Nov ’03

£1.00=

87.89

1349.38

1308.63

1373.99

$1.00=

55.20

824.00

820.37

813.36

The transactions (import and export) of the local currency are limited to Z$2000. However, the import of foreign currency is unlimited, while the export of the same is subject to the support by the visitors currency declaration form. The schedule of the banking hours in Zimbabwe is as follows: Mon-Tue and Thurs-Fri 0800-1500, Wed 0800-1300 and Sat 0800-1130.

Travel information: The travel information is divided into two categories namely International and Internal.

Note: Due to highly sensitive law and order situation and political disturbances in the country, it is hereby advised that all tourists Zimbabwe should remain caution at all times stay abreast of recent developments in the country. It is also suggested that only organized tour operators be approached for traveling inside the country and that too at established destinations.

(A) Travel International:

By Air: The national carrier of Zimbabwe is called Air Zimbabwe (Tel: (4) 575 021; website: ( www.airzimbabwe.com). Besides this other important airlines operating in Zimbabwe include Aeroflot, Air Botswana, British Airways, Egypt Air, KLM, Lufthansa, Majestic Air, South African Airlines and Zambia Airways. A flight from Harare to London usually takes 9 hours and 50 minutes approximately. Flights from Bulawayo roughly take an hour.
International airports: The airport in the capital city of Harare (HRE) is situated at a distance of 14km (9 miles) in the southeast of the city. Several coaches run at regular intervals to the city which usually takes 20 minutes as traveling time. Travelers can also avail the service of cabs that are easily available. Nearly all airports offer facilities of post office, restaurant, duty-free shop and bank/bureau de change.

Departure tax: Non residents are required to pay the departure tax amounting to US $20whether in dollars or in local currency. Minors below the age of 2 years are exempted from this regulation.
By Rail: There are train services that run from South Africa through Botswana to Bulawayo . There is also a link to Zambia via Victoria Falls .
By Road : There are roads connections from Botswana , Malawi , Mozambique , South Africa , Tanzania and Zambia . Important information worth consideration is that off the main routes (Beitbridge and Victoria Falls ), travel conditions are often difficult during heavy rains. Border posts are generally open from 0600-1800 although the more popular routes through Beitbridge, Plumtree and Victoria Falls are open from 0600-2000. For details, contact the Embassy or High Commission.

(B)Travel Internal:
By Air: The national carrier as well as other airlines conducts flights to Buffalo Range, Bulawayo, Gweru, Hwange, Kariba, Masvingo and Victoria Falls. Apart from these there are also special light-aircraft services at Kariba and Victoria Falls offering sightseeing and game-viewing flights.
By Rail: There are daily train services are available between Bulawayo, Chiredzi, Harare, Labatse, Mutare, Plumtree, Triangle and Victoria Falls that are run by National Railways of Zimbabwe..
By Road: Zimbabwe sports a spreading and well integrated road network with routes available to all major towns and rural areas. Traffic runs on the left side of the roads. Visitors also have the facility of boarding a number of buses, minibuses and coach services that run across the country. Few prominent bus services include Blue Arrow Luxury Coaches (website: www.bluearrow.co.zw) that provides bus services to principal destinations including Harare-Bulawayo (via Chivhu and Kwe Kwe). Another significant option at the disposal of visitors is of hiring cars that are available at all the major airports and main hotels. In the urban areas of the country there runs a satisfactory bus service by a subsidiary of Zimbabwe Omnibus Company. There is also a local bus network available in Bulawayo .

By Water: Given the fact that there are a number of rivers flowing through the country, the visitors also have the luxury of using water channels to travel within the country as several F erries run on Lake Kariba from Kariba to Binga and Mlibizi.

Accommodation: With regards to the accommodation facilities there is a multitude of luxurious and stylish hotels and lodges are available all through the country. These hotels are similar to guest houses that provide bed and breakfast. A rather detailed list of registered hotels is available from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority. Let it be mentioned that all Non-residents are under the obligation to pay hotel bills in foreign currency (usually in U.S. dollars) or by credit cards. Payments in local currency are not entertained at all no matter how sensitive the case is. Another interesting feature of the hotel industry is its rating system, according to which all hotels are ranked on a 5-star system that required hotels to score at least 1 star to get registered with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority. At presentover 70 hotels are registered. Further information can be obtained from the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ), PO Box CY 398, Causeway, Harare (tel: (4) 733 211 or 792 919; fax: (4) 708 872; e-mail: hazim@ecoweb.co.zw; website: www.haz.co.zw).

Food & Drink: Zimbabwe being home to multiple ethnicities society gives the visitors the benefit of enjoying both local and international cuisine. Dining outside is considered a very popular activity and is relatively a cheaper option. The most favorite dish in the masses is known as sadza (a stiff maize meal) eaten with meat and/or gravy and a relish. Beer is the most sought alcoholic beverage. In the hotels, table service is considered a normal practice. Almost every major hotel offers imported alcoholic drinks. Public bars are considered an indispensable part of hotels. All major hotels provide 24-hour bars and room service.
Nightlife and Shopping: Nightlife in Zimbabwe is restricted to the urban parts of the country which mainly is confined to eating and discos. However, the larger cities have nightclubs, cinemas, and repertory theatres as well as casinos. With regards to the shopping activities, a sales tax of 10 to 22 per cent is accrued to all purchases, the higher rate being on luxury items, except those which are to be exported. Popular purchases include copper, wooden and soapstone carvings, game skin and leather products, pottery and basketwork. Typical shopping hours in Zimbabwe are as follows: Mon-Fri 0800-1700 and Sat 0800-1300.
Social Practices: As is the case in majority of countries the urban parts of Zimbabwe are under strong influences of Western culture and lifestyle, however, the rural parts of the country still hold the traditional values and morals standards. Shaking hands is considered the customary form of greeting. European manners of courtesies and codes of practice must ideally be observed whenever visiting someone’s place. Return invitations are highly encouraged and appreciated. The practice of smoking is considered common, although it is prohibited in public places. Phtography of government buildings, embassies, and military installations is strictly banned and the local authorities fall very hardly upon the violators. In a special situation a permit can be granted by the government office.

Clothing:

Casual wear is preferred for daytime, while men are advised to wear suits and ties for business meetings. Some chic restaurants and hotel bars require male guests to wear a jacket and tie. Kindly refer the climatic conditions mentioned in the earlier lines to ascertain the most suitable clothing with respect to the time you are visiting Zimbabwe .

Compulsory immunizations:

Yellow Fever: Yellow fever is a highly contagious disease which spread very quickly. It is essentially an infection found in monkeys and is passed to humans through mosquito bites. It starts off with a mild fever and then goes on to cause jaundice, failure of liver and kidneys and then eventually causes death. The vaccination is effective whose impact continues for 10 years. But it is usually only available in specialist clinics or hospitals.
Recommended immunizations:

Hepatitis A : Hepatitis A, is basically about soreness of the liver caused by a virus A. The virus is mostly caught up from contaminated food and water. The symptoms of the disease include a slight febrile disorder, loss of appetite and jaundice. Almost everyone recovers within about 2 months. Precautions include immunization and avoiding salads, unpeeled fruit, sharing crockery and cutlery.
Malaria and Polio: Malaria is a danger in the lowland areas of Northern and Eastern Transvaal and parts of Eastern Natal reaching down to the Tugela River . Polio or Poliomyelitis is also an infection that is caused by a virus. It affects the motor neurone cells in the spinal cord mainly. The symptoms of this disease include fever and headache, weakness in a group of muscles, then extensive paralysis. Sometimes there is respiratory paralysis and rapid death. Vaccine is effective and is taken by mouth.
Typhoid
Typhoid or 'enteric fever' is carried by infection with 'salmonella typhi'. The infection is passed from infected water, milk or food or by people preparing food or drinks. Symptoms are a rapidly fluctuating temperature, drowsiness, diarrhoea, abdominal rash, delirium and coma. Immunization is effective. The disease is treatable with antibiotics.

Major Attractions:

Harare : The bustling city of Harare (previously known as Salisbury ) which is also the commercial and industrial centre is the capital of Zimbabwe . For visitors it is usually recommended as the starting point. It is a wonderful city, marked by inspiring natural beauty and modern architecture. Local sightseeing includes the modern museum and art gallery, the Robert McIlwaine Recreational Park, which has a lake and game reserve, the Lion & Cheetah Park, the Larvon Bird Gardens and the landscaped gardens of aloes and cycads at Ewanrigg BotanicalGardens. The city offers pleasant climatic conditions bcause of which it is also referred as “The Sunshine City.”

Bulawayo : It is the second most notable city of the country. The city of Bulawayo takes pride in its rich historical associations and is also the site of the National Museum and headquarters of the National Railways of Zimbabwe. Other sites of attraction that surround the city include Khami ruins, Rhodes Matopos National Park, that is respected for its huge granite boulders. Excellent fishing opportunity is available in the nearby dams, there are caves with rock paintings, the grave of Cecil Rhodes are some of the most prominent features of the city.

The Eastern Highlands : The Inyanga, Vumba and Chimanimani mountain ranges are regarded as the key holiday areas for both the locals and tourists especially people who are in search of fresh mountainous air. The country’s highest mountain, Inyangani (2592m/8504ft), is in this area. The landscape simply dazzles the visitor with its diversity characterized by deep valleys, gorges, bare granite peaks, pine-forested slopes and bubbling trout streams rolling down steep cliffs. In addition, there are challenging hilly golf courses and pony rides through the heather, as well as fair chances for mountain climbing, squash, tennis, bowls, fishing, snooker and gambling in the casino.

Hwange National Park : It is amongst the largest parks of Zimbabwe covering an area of 14,620 sq km (5,644 sq miles), and is home to a variety of animals and birds. The park is definitely a must visit especially for tourist that are particularly inclined towards wild life and natural scenery. There are three camps from which, networks of game-viewing roads direct visitors to areas with good animal concentrations and to waterholes where, in the latter half of the day, a multitude of wild animals come together and give a fantastic mix of nature and wildlife.

Victoria Falls : Needing no mention, Victoria Falls easily constitute the largest waterfalls in the world – at 2.5km (1.5 miles) wide, where every minute 550 million liters of water plunge 100m (330ft) into a narrow chasm; the spray can be observed from as far as 20 miles. To gain a fair view of the Falls, the ‘Flight of the Angels’ light plane trip is a must, as is a cruise up the mighty Zambezi River. To view the Falls from the other side one can walk across to Zambia to have a magical sight of this tremendous site.

Other Areas: A holiday in Zimbabwe devoid of a visit to the Great Zimbabwe National Monument , the largest complex of ruins in Africa south of the pyramids in Egypt , would be highly unfortunate. The Main Enclosure, or Temple, has to its credit walls over 9m (30ft) tall, 4m (14ft) thick and over 228m (250 yards) in circumference, giving roughly 485,521 cubic metres (635,000 cubic ft) portraying beautiful hand-trimmed mortarless stonework.

Zimbabwe Visas:

Countries whose nationals do not require a visa include:

+ Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Fiji, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Reunion, St Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, UK (British subjects being a 'Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies'), USA, Vanuatu, Zambia.

* Countries whose nationals do require a visa include:

+ Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cape Verde, China, Russia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, India, Iran, Israel, Korea, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Senegal, Romania, Senegal, Slovakia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire.

Visas are issued at Zimbabwean Embassies and High Commissions.