This was the last day of my visa and I needed to extend it today. It’s Friday and therefore the immigration office will be closed over the weekend. I had a bit of Deja-Vu driving back into Chimoio, I just hope that immigration understands my situation and how I got into it.

I prepared a wee letter the night before, explaining my situation and that I needed all the help I could get.

Please read this.

I ask for your help and your patience. My entry into Zimbabwe had been denied by a corrupt officer. It’s a long story, but please let me explain.

I arrived at the Forbes Border Post Thursday, August 23 rd, 2024 at around 3 pm.

The Mozambiquen border control was friendly and easy. I gave the officer my ‘Temporary Vehicle Import Declaration’, got my stamp in the passport, and drove to the Zimbabwen Border Control. There, I filled in my deceleration of details and went to the counter. I was ignored and told to wait immediately. My passport was taken to an office and I waited. I was told to follow this officer into his office.

Immigration officer and chief of station F.E. Chingara asked me why I am going to Zimbabwe and what my itinerary is.

I said, that I want to see national parks and get to know its culture. I will be staying at ‘Ann Bruce Backpackers’ in Mutare for two nights and then I will go to ‘gonarezhou national park’, camping with my Italian friends at ‘malabauti campsite’.

He asked for proof.

How do I proof it I asked. I don’t understand.

If you can’t proof your itinerary I won’t let you into Zimbabwe.

How do I proof my itinerary I asked again.

100 Dollars American is enough proof he said.

I was shocked. I don’t have 100$ American cash on me, I only have enough cash money to pay my visa and my taxes.

Then I will refuse your entry into Zimbabwe.

He told me to sign the Refusal Papers ‘blank’ and only filled in his details after I signed.

I was escorted back to the Mozambiquen side of the Border Post, where my passport and Refusal Papers were handed to a Mozambiquen Immigration Officer.

He was very friendly. He said that I have to go to Tete, to cross the border into Malawi.

But today is your last day of your visa, so you must go to the Immigration Department in Chimoio tomorrow and apply for a travel visa to go to Tete and cross the border. I can’t give you a new visa, or a new ‘Temporary Vehicle Import Declaration’ here, because technically, you didn’t leave the country. You must ask at the immigration department in Chimoio and hope for their kindness and understanding.

So, here I am, hoping for your kindness and understanding.

I am not a bad man. I have traveled around the world for 30 years and never had been refused entry to any country. I know that I am in a ‘tight’ spot now, but it wasn’t I fault. I had such a good time in Mozambique, that I left it for the last day to leave this amazing country. I didn’t think that I would be refused entry into Zimbabwe, but that is just how it is. I want to do the right thing by Mozambiquen law as I respect the law. But I am asking for your help to help me to get out of this situation. I don’t speak much Portuguese. Thank you very much.

Bernd Furstenau

I translated this note into Portuguese. This way I could just hand the officer the iPad for him to read my situation. I just hope it will save a lot of confusion and explaining in English and body lingo.

And it did. I parked Zimba in front of a shopping center, where security guys held automatic weapons. ‘You will be safe hear my friend.’ as I jumped out of the zebra. The security already had an eye on Zimba and a quick ‘thumbs up’ sealed the deal.

The immigration office in Chimoio had an outstanding response to my situation.

If someone could please share this link with Chimoio Immigration, Mozambique? Veroso or Belem. If one of you could forward the link to this story to the immigration office? Obrigado.

The first officer was almost in tears before she handed the iPad to her colleague. His English is better it seems. He came out to clarify a few questions before he filled out a form with my passport details. I just sat down and watched a few immigration officers scurrying.

‘It’s Friday lunchtime and the cashier wants to finish up. You can pay now but this will take a little time.’ Outstanding. ‘And with the TIP, there is an office around the corner.’

Wow. So I sat around with my iPad in my hand, going through photos. This did take a while as I noticed one officer nodding to her colleague ‘What about him?’ I asked if one of the officers could show me the way to the TIP office. It’s Friday afternoon meanwhile, time is running short. The friendly English-speaking officer was just about to take a photocopy of my passport when I was handed back my original.

‘Another 30 days, sir. You are very welcome.’ I was stunned like a mullet. My hair doo sure looked like it. I thanked everyone for their help and understanding. Muito Obrigado!’

The two of us went to the office, where even Zimba gets a new passport. They were extremely friendly too, after reading the Portuguese version of my letter, but…

It turns out that a new TIP can only be issued in or out at the border posts. That’s where they control the vehicle entries.

And that’s where we have to go before this one expires. Today. ‘Hip, hip…bloody hooray.’

I couldn’t say anything to this friendly officer. But really? Back to the border of chaos. At night? Okay, if that’s what we have to do then that’s what we do Zimba. Back to the border.

I was stopped by police at the very same place, I was pulled over a few days ago. They are right in front of the shopping center. I just needed to buy a few groceries before driving back to the border. And then just drive, drive north.

‘Driver license and TIP please.’ Oh C’mon! Now?’ I handed the police officer the iPad with my written explanation. ‘I have to drive back to the border now. I just need a few things from the shops.’ ‘Have a safe journey, Sir.’ as he returned the iPad. ‘Thank you, officer! Same to you!’

The last light was already fading as I drove through Manica. I will be at the border in the dark.

Ja, this is something everyone should experience. Chaos in the dark. I missed the exit, where light vehicles drive to the right-hand side and had to reverse a couple hundred meters. Padoko, Padoko, right? Very, very slowly. I parked near the Border Gate and explained to the guard, that I just need a TIP and will be driving back into Mozambique after. The thumbs went up again.

And yes. Thumbs up to the Border Office Imigracaó Mozambique just as well. After a quick clarification, the entry forms must be filled in on the other side. This is the exit division. I handed him the note from the iPad too.

‘You can’t have back the old one. You must fill in a new one. I help you on the other side.’

So I filled in my details, which were then notified by book(?). Even the truck drivers let me go first. One even clarified a detail on my papers. Boy, they must have had a hard time in Zimbabwe as well.

The moral of the story.

I had 30 more days in Mozambique if I wanted to.