As soon as I stopped on the Zimbabwean side of Forbes Border Post, two ‘guides’ were trying to shove papers into my hands, that I needed to fill in. This then caused a commotion in front of the Dick’s office. ‘Yes, I am staying at Ann’s Backpackers in Mutare for two nights’ I replied to his question. ‘You must wait!’ So I stood back and saw how quickly the local commuters were handled. The door opened and ‘I must follow him’ to the office. Here we bloody go.

I wrote the following letter a day later and sent it to Tourist Information Zimbabwe as well as the ‘home affairs office in Zimbabwe’.

They mustn’t been at home as I never heard from them or anyone.

To whom it may concern,

In 30 years of traveling around the world, I have never been so humiliated and felt threatened by any immigration officer ever like I did at the Forbes Border Post in Zimbabwe. I was scared and couldn’t believe the sheer ignorance and arrogance towards me, as a traveling visitor.

I arrived at Forbes Border Post on Thursday, 22nd of August, 2024 at around 3 pm.

I had previously filled in my ITP form via the Internet for a smooth transition at the border.

I parked my car and filled in the deceleration form with my details to submit to the immigration officer. I was going to stay in Mutare at Ann Backpackers, 99 Fourth Street, Mutare for two nights, before meeting my Italian friends at Gonarezhou National Park Camping Malabauti.

The officer behind the window ignored me and told me I had to wait. Shortly after I was called into an office, where border post chief F.E. Chingara was sitting.

He asked me about my travels where I was going to stay and what my itinerary was.

I told him that I would stay two nights at Ann Backpackers, which is a hotel for independent travelers. From there I will drive south to National Park Ghonerazou, where I will meet some Italian friends of mine. From there we will travel together through Zimbabwe, visiting many national parks.

Immigration officer F.E. Chingara asked me again for my itinerary and proof of it.

I said I had no written itinerary, but why would I lie about it? I wanted to come to Zimbabwe to enjoy the nature and the culture this country has to offer. ‘How do I know you tell the truth’ this communication circled.

He said, without proof, he won’t let me cross the border into Zimbabwe. Unless I pay him 100$ American. Then I can go. There was no one else in the room. And he didn’t wear his name badge like all the other officers.

I said, that I don’t have that kind of money in cash, just enough to pay my visa fees and car taxes.

He said he would refuse my entry.

At this point, I was very confused about this situation. I started to write down my itinerary on what I think I will travel to in the next few days.

He said that this was no proof and that only if I paid him, I will be able to enter Zimbabwe.

He made a few phone calls while I was waiting patiently.

I asked for his name as there wasn’t a badge on his shirt.

He told me if I got violent, he would call security and escort me to jail.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and seeing. I am not a violent person.

Another officer came in and tried to plead with him to let me go, but he wouldn’t.

He then handed me the ‘Refusal of Entry form’ which I had to sign.

I took a photocopy of it. Only after I signed it, did he change the written reasons of my refusal and signed it the very same document.

I was escorted back to the Mozambique Border Post by Officer ‘Mantani’ with a similar name, who handed my passport and the refusal of entry declaration to the Mozambique officer. He had that sleazy arrogant smirk on his face, as if he just captured Africa’s Most Wanted. Ja, look at me, everyone. I am the Foetzek Man. There was a lot of handshaking going on, so I guess this happens often.

The Mozambique border officer was very friendly and told me what I needed to do. My Mozambique visa expired that day, so now I will have to go to immigration in Mozambique and apply for a new one. This is a lot of hassle for me.

I have traveled around the world for 30 years, value and respect each country with its laws and traditions. This is the reason why I enjoy traveling. Not in Zimbabwe.

I would have spent thousands of dollars in Zimbabwe on my travels. I even have my charity to buy food for people in need or donate money to animal shelters. My Italian friends, around 30 of them, are now canceling their entry into Zimbabwe because of this incident. A lot of money that would have been spent in Zimbabwe now isn’t because of the action of this very corrupt immigration officer F.E. Chingara.

I will let all my friends and followers on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok know, to not travel to Zimbabwe. I am a professional travel blogger and have a lot of friends.

I hope you have the courage, to make Zimbabwe a friendly and easy-going travel destination for all travelers and tourists.

Kind regards,

Bernd Furstenau

Well, I might have blown the trumpet a bit harder than normal with this letter but facts are facts.

Driving back into Mozambique, I felt somewhat relieved.

If this is how my travels in Zimbabwe would have started, then I rather foetzek Zimbabwe.

The sun was setting and people were smiling here in Mozambique. But, I had a busy day ahead.