Zimbabwe Travel Forum

hey there
i have recently been invited to Zimbabwe and i have no idea what to expect considering the reports etc but i love a challenge but mostly,travelling so i am going there this december.thing is,my passport ihas expired and i dont have enough time to re-apply for one.so how do i go about obtaining an ETD? plus...any tips....???

thanks
neo

I have no advice as I haven't been there. However, I have read a lot about it and wonder if you understand exactly how much of a challenge you will be facing.

An ETD is an EMERGENCY travel document, e.g. for when your passport gets stolen while you are on holiday and you need something to travel back on. These are not normally issued just because you let your passport expire and then decided you wanted to leave the country! Of course, your country's passport office may have some sort of emergency procedure, but as you don't mention your nationality in your question or give any clues in your profile, how are we supposed to know which country that is?!
In any case, you would seem to have at least a month in hand: where I live that would be ample time to get a new passport, although it could be a challenge to get a visa as well. But, it seems there is every chance you could do this on arrival, see http://www.uyaphi.com/zimbabwe/visa.htm. However, you must of course check with the Zimbabwean embassy/consulate/high commission in your country.

Well if you like challenges then travelling with an expired passport should give you plenty of excitement. Good Luck

As far as the passport thing, goes-you will not be able to get out of the country-and certainty not into another country-without one. There are expatiated services you can use to get it in about two weeks. Check on the Internet.

Our mission team was in Zimbabwe in July 2007, in spite of travel warnings. It is a very difficult country to get around in if you do not have a host who is "savvy" (knows how to get money on the black/parallel market), and additionally helpful, knows Shona-the local language. It helps if secret police start to hassle you, which can happen anywhere, at anytime.
You CAN NOT use credit cards or the official exchange rate. The official exchange rate changes everyday, which drives the black market. For example: on Monday a loaf of bread cost (black market rate) $250,000 Zim dollars-about $.50US. Friday the cost of a loaf of bread is $500,000 Zim dollars. It fixed the new rate at Z$30,000 to the US dollar, an official devaluation of more than 99 per cent, but still well above its true value — on the black market US$1 fetches around Z$260,000. Fuel is another problem. If you have a rental car, you can’t buy fuel without fuel vouchers. So, you can see how it goes.

There is human suffering everywhere you turn and hundreds of people walking because of the fuel crisis. About 35 percent of the adults in Zimbabwe have HIV or AIDS and with the food crisis, and no access to anti-viral drugs, people are dying quickly.

Personally, if I were you, I would decide why you want to go to Zimbabwe. If your reason is a good one, do a lot of Internet research to get the fell of the place. However, if you were invited perhaps you have contacts on the ground that can tell you about daily life in Zimbabwe.

There is only one airline flying into Harare-British Airlines that had been there forever, just pulled out, so travel arrangements into and out of Harare are another problem.

Also, when you arrive, you will have to get the visa before you go through customs and you might be hassled. The visa officer can charge you whatever he likes and question you about all kinds of things. It’s usually between $50-100US. Make sure you have the local address, name of person, and phone number of where you will stay and how long you will be staying. Even if it’s a guesthouse-have the address and phone number. Put down “Holiday”-visiting friends-for your reason for being in the country. Be friendly and do not act “put out” or irritated if you are questioned either about you stay or in customs. You could end up back on the airplane or in jail.

Basically-if you’re going to Zimbawe – be emotionally and physically prepared for anything and be smart as to where you go. Avoid roadblocks and townships where war vets hang out! They are young punks that when high on power or drugs, combined with a semi-automatic weapon, is a recipe for disaster. Take power bars, health care products, and a hidden wallet for your cash. Only keep enough for one day in you pocket or purse so if you are searched and you pay a bribe you can tell them, "This is all the money I have!" Carry a COPY of you passport because if you carry your original they can confiscate it.