The Sunday News
Pamela Nyabadza Harare Bureau
Zimbabwe and Zambia will on November 28 introduce a joint travel visa to ensure international tourists visit both countries hassle-free.
The Kavango Zambezi (Kaza) uni-visa will be launched in Victoria Falls and is expected to rapidly increase tourism revenue.It will benefit tourists from 40 countries.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Engineer Walter Mzembi told our Harare Bureau that marketing would kick off at the just-ended World Travel Market (WTM) tourism showcase in England.
“The Kaza uni-visa pilot project will after WTM be promoted across the globe at tourism fairs with a view to increase arrivals in Zimbabwe. The uni-visa project is being pursued by Zimbabwe and Zambia and it is being funded by the World Bank.”
Under the new system, tourists will acquire visas at ports of entry for $50.
The visa is valid for 30 days and allows holders to tour Zimbabwe and Zambia without restriction.
Namibia, Botswana and Angola will join if the six-month pilot project succeeds.
Presently, tourists are securing two visas (Zimbabwean and Zambian) and subjected to conventional immigration procedures.
Minister Mzembi said immigration equipment has been installed at Harare International, Victoria Falls, Kazungula and Victoria Falls airports to check visa authenticity.
“Training of staff has been completed and visa stickers have been produced for this project to start officially after its launch on November 28, 2014 in Victoria Falls,” he said.
Immigration Department principal director Mr Clemence Masango weighed in, saying:
“The World Bank, together with the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, and other partners managed to come up with $900 000, which we used to buy equipment for the project.
“The visa will be valid for only 30 days and will cost $50, which will be paid at the port of arrival by the tourist.”
