United States Department of State - Travel Warning - Zimbabwe

[Clive]

Travel Warning

United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520

This information is current as of today, Fri, 09 Jul 2004 09:53:02 GMT-0400.

Zimbabwe

July 2, 2004

This Travel Warning is being issued to remind Americans of the political, economic and humanitarian crises in Zimbabwe. This supersedes the Travel Warning of January 22, 2004.

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe continues to be in the midst of political, economic and humanitarian crises with serious implications for the security situation in the country. All U.S. citizens in Zimbabwe are urged to take those measures they deem appropriate to ensure their well-being.

The Zimbabwean economy is in precipitous decline, with extremely high rates of unemployment and inflation. The economic crisis has led to a serious increase in crime. Zimbabwe is still experiencing spot fuel shortages that can hinder in-country travel.

Zimbabwe's food shortages are expected to continue, although, it is difficult to assess the severity of the situation given government secrecy surrounding agricultural production. The humanitarian crisis is expected to worsen in coming months and may lead to possible large-scale migration of Zimbabweans to urban or border areas, with further disruption and an increase in crime and instability.

Commercial farms should be avoided at all times, especially those occupied by settlers or so-called "war veterans," who are typically young government supporters acting with impunity outside the law. In 2002, U.S. Embassy staff members were detained and one was beaten by war veterans on a farm near Harare.

American citizens visiting or resident in Zimbabwe are urged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Harare, located at 172 Herbert Chipeto Ave., telephone: (263) 4-250-593/4/5.

U.S. citizens who remain in Zimbabwe despite this Travel Warning should consult the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet for Zimbabwe, and the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, which are available via the Internet at http://travel.state.gov. American citizens may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States or 317-472-2328 from overseas.

[Clive]

See also the State Department Consular Information Sheet

[Clive]

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[cyborg]

not good for tourism

[headsonpikes]

They forgot to remind people to pack a lunch.

[BipolarBob]

First Bahrain, now Zimbabwe. Where can I take the family out for a nice vacation? I'm running out of choices.

[cyborg]

I have a fantasy of sending Mugabe down the Victoria Falls in a bathtub.

[blam]

"not good for tourism"

Did you cancel your Zimbabwe trip?

[cyborg]

Yes I did after a very heated exchange with my mother. Sheesh no sense of adventure.

[Luke]

Thanks... I try to avoid all 3rd world AIDs infested garbage pits like Africa and Los Angeles.

[cyborg]

Los Angeles???

[blam]

"Yes I did after a very heated exchange with my mother. Sheesh no sense of adventure."

Listen to your mother, she's always right.

[cyborg]

That's what she says ;-)

[sully777]

United States Department of State - Travel Warning - Zimbabwe

---

Went to school with some Rhodesians...err..Zimbabweans. The Rhodesians had this incredible accent. They sounded similar to QEII speaking to Parliament. They were not the same as the other Commonwealth British students in disposition, with the exception of the Kiwis. As I recall they possessed an aristocratic aire to the point that you questioned if they were farmers.

They recalled the day The Benevolent One took over. They literally woke up to all the street signs changed in the cities, especially the capital of Salsbury...err...Harare. My friends that lived on the farms were unaffected but knew their time was coming. They frequently talked of black bigotry that went unreported in the western press. Recently, I've heard of raping and pillaging by the revolutionary guard. I pray they got out and are safe. The farms that were once most productive in Africa have gone to pieces. Socialism and state-sponsored racism has ruined the economy.

Zimbabwe is JimCrow In Reverse and has a sign that says "Don't let the sun set on your white *ss in this country."

[cyborg]

I have many Rhodesian friends, and a few Zimbabwean friends who are white and coloured. You're right about the accent thing. Sometimes what comes out of their mouth will make the PC crowd's hairs stand on end. Then some are just outright hostile and racist. If they ever give a black man a compliment it is well earned by that man. Mugabe gets away with murder in the press unless I happen to turn on the BBC and see something being covered. Otherwise, Mugabe goes unnoticed and that is the Zimbabweans' chief complaint black,white and otherwise. Now the white farmers of Zimbabwe will just have to get in line behind the Sudanese christians in terms of how much the media cares about them, which is zero.

[hoot2]

"I have a fantasy of sending Mugabe down the Victoria Falls in a bathtub. "

"American citizens visiting or resident in Zimbabwe are urged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Harare "

register? so mugabe will have a "list" to track them down n extract any $$$ that they may have left?

[television is just wrong]

Not my idea of a vacation destination.

[cyborg]

Mugabe wants to seize foreign currency and pray tell how he would do that! I would never register if I was to visit.

[cyborg]

Not really :(

[happygrl]

No.

Registering with the Embassy is a precuation urged by our State Department so that the Embassy knows what size plane to request in case of evacuation.

Seriously. It is for your own protection.

Mugabe has nothing to do with it.

[Owl558]

"Seriously. It is for your own protection"

And here I was thinking you registered to help with the identification of your remains when they find them. Silly me.