The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) yesterday issued a communique stating Zimbabwe as a safe destination as armed military personnel roamed in the streets of Harare’s Central Business District (CBD).
Armed military personnel were deployed into the capital city’s CBD against activists protesting against election results on Wednesday afternoon.
“The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) would like to inform all valued tourists from both the domestic and international markets that, notwithstanding the post-election violence witnessed on 01 August 2018 in the capital city, Harare, Zimbabwe remains a safe destination for any travel,” reads the communique signed by the ZTA Chief Executive, Karikoga Kaseke.
“The incidents of protests that occured in parts of the Central Business District (CBD) and the south eastern areas of the capital city were quickly brought under control through the timely intervention of the police with the assistance of the army.”
Military intervention on protests in Harare on Wednesday left three civilians reportedly shot dead and others wounded.
“Authority sincerely regrets the loss of lives during the disturbances and extends its deep condolences to the bereaved families.” ZTA says.
“Tourism thrives in a peaceful environment and as such the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority does not condone any form of violence at all and joins the rest of the nation and international community to condemn the perpetrators to violence in the strongest terms.”
The situation has been turning back into normalcy since yesterday after the army and the police cleared the Harare CBD on Wednesday resulting in a limited economic activities on Thursday.
ZTA’ s communique also says that the rest of Zimbabwe including tourist attraction centres remained peaceful as protests took place in Harare.
“We would like to urge all travelers to Zimbabwe and those currently in the country to conduct their business deals as the situation is back to normal,” ZTA says.
