Tourists to Zimbabwe and everyone else, Beware
Quite a few of us living in Harare “leak” (that is, give a massive sigh) when we’re asked to pick someone up from Harare International Airport off the South African Airways flight at 9pm. It’s not that we’re unhelpful or unfriendly, its more to do with running the gauntlet of weirdly positioned (that is, in the dark, with no signage) police roadblocks, non-working traffic lights, potholes and the Zimbabwe Mafia.
The Zimbabwe Mafia is a group of 4 men who rob and assault people returning from the airport. Most recently my family went to welcome home a sibling returning for Christmas. They parked their car in the airport car park but little did they know that whilst they were inside, a member of the Zimbabwe Mafia slashed one of their tyres. When they left the airport they got as far as the Independence arch when the tyre became flat. Pretty soon they were rounded on by 4 men who were violent (one of them hit the 74 year old driver across the face with a wheel spanner) and they were intent on stealing what they could. When they left, they told their victims that they had met the Zimbabwe Mafia.
Welcome to Zimbabwe.
There is no doubt that if the Zimbabwean authorities had an ounce of proactivity and concern they would do something to improve the security situation for people travelling to and from the airport.
- The airport car park is dimly lit at the best of times. When the airport wants to save on power, there are actually no lights on at all in the car park. Of course this gives the bad guys all the room in the world to manoeuvre.
- The airport car park does not have a single guard looking after the cars parked there. Why?
- Whilst construction of a fancy new road to the airport has been underway for over 2 years, the current one does not have streetlights in certain sections, like before the Independence arch. Why has this not been addressed? Yes, it’s fine for some who speed around our city in motorcades but what about the rest of us.
- Members of the Hatfield Police Station are incredibly energetic when it comes to positioning themselves on the airport road at strategic times to catch motorists speeding to catch a flight. However, it is clearly known to them by now that local Zimbabweans and visitors are being assaulted at night. Why are they not increasing their presence on the airport road at these vulnerable times? Too much like hard work? I think so.
In real terms, the authorities could make this strategic area of our city much safer fairly easily. But they won’t. And in the meantime government officials cite Zimbabwe as a safe destination.
Come to Zimbabwe and get robbed before you reach your hotel.
You’ll love it here.
Wednesday, December 8th 2010 at 10:39 am
The same was about to happen to a collegue and myself on night of Friday 26th November but further along the Airport Rd and fortunately we knew what to expect so drove on a flat tyre to the entrance of 1 Commando Barracks where 3 ZNA soldiers , who were on guard duty , stood by us as we changed the wheel . The “Mafia” soon arrived , stopped where we were parked but then sped off when they saw the ZNA guys , one of whom had an AK . The “Mafia” were in a taxi , we think blue in colour with red lettering . We unfortunately did not get the registration number . They returned sometime later but this time just drove past obviously seeing the ZNA guys still with us . I made a report to the ZRP the following week .
I believe its time the airlines , travel agents and Airport officials put some pressure on the ZRP .
I for one and my company as a matter of policy will no longer use the evening flights into Harare .
Wednesday, December 8th 2010 at 11:04 am
Dear Bev Clark,
A quick question madam,exactly how do you see this article helping Zimbabwe to become a better place?
Seeing as it is that you have noted that there are problems with the street lights,what have you done about it, beside comfortable armchair critisism? Have you rounded organised a donation of street light for that stretch of road? Or the potholes,have you attempted to fill any up,even the glaring ones outside your own driveway perhaps?
Your armchair criticism is self defeating if you are a Zimbabwean-your alarmist view is irrisponsible. Its okay to see whats wrong,its even better to see what can be done.
Tyler
Wednesday, December 8th 2010 at 2:45 pm
Obviously this Tyler is a clueless individual who most likely has not travelled on that dangerous road at night. Bev, If you think the SAA 9pm flight landing is hell, try KQ’s 2am Nairobi flight where you have to check in at midnite. Just last week my partner drove me to the airport to catch this flight and I was appalled to note that the entire road had not a single traffic light working. And it was just blood curdling and gut wrenching sitting there, waiting for my partner to text that little ‘I’m home safe’ message. Excuse me, but if warning people about the dangers of this road is self-defeating and alarmist, so be it. Though I wouldn’t wish it on anybody, I think Tyler would get a nice wake up call if one of his own family gets attacked. Its just pathetic to think that council or whoever it is thats busy replacing traffic lights in the city centre is not finding it necessary to fix lights and heighten security on the only road to the country’s international airport. Clearly, Tyler has no clue who Bev Clark is (google search engine may be of help). She is far from an armchair critic, and I think writing about these things is a bold step to action, compared to the armchair criticisms of a few ‘reactionaries’.
Natasha Msonza
Wednesday, December 8th 2010 at 3:42 pm
Natasha Musonza
Singing with the Jones? So you think airport road is the end and all of Zimbabwe. Have you been to Chitungwiza of late? A home of 1 million Black souls and partys of it has not been having power for 8 days in a row. How many people have been murdered, robbed, raped there? A million and half i guess.
I dont have to comment on Ms Clark every sane Zimbabwean knows who she speaks for and why. A subject for another day.
Neither do I condone robberies of any kind, intent or race but if the truth be said Ms Clarke “dont use an axe to swat a fly from a friend’s forehead. To Musonza with a “U” Ndanyara kuziva kuti you also belong to the club that hates Zimbabwe on behalf of Whites. Shame to you my sister. Varungu havasimuleague yako even if it means unokwirawo ndege navo muchidya mese, muchirara mese. Havakude.
Wednesday, December 8th 2010 at 9:02 pm
Are you kidding Tyler? If developers can see fit to dualise the road between the city centre and the airport, why should we not expect them to maintain the lighting, traffic lights and potholes on the existing road? And what possible excuse can there be for restricting policing along this stretch to speed traps?
And why should victims of criminal activity not speak out? If Zimbabwe is going to step out of the long dark shadow of these past 10 lawless years, it’s going to have to be proactive and open to constructive criticism. Tourism is a competitive and lucrative industry that rewards those countries that make an effort to preserve their environments and protect their visitors.
Friday, December 10th 2010 at 11:36 am
Its the police who are more than corrupt.We need an overhaul of the police force.They mount road blocks to have bribes from people who are latter mugged,maimed or killed a few yards away.
There is a chain of people ranging from the top officials cascading down to the street sweepers who are lobbying for the lawlessness.They benefit from the anarchy.
Wednesday, January 26th 2011 at 10:20 am
[...] factors like the “Zimbabwe Mafia” which targets cars parked at the Harare airport picking up visiting holiday makers don’t [...]