{"id":43660,"date":"2019-01-25T12:28:30","date_gmt":"2019-01-25T12:28:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/?p=43660"},"modified":"2019-07-10T08:42:42","modified_gmt":"2019-07-10T07:42:42","slug":"two-sides-of-the-zimbabwean-picture-perception-versus-reality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/destinations\/two-sides-of-the-zimbabwean-picture-perception-versus-reality.htm","title":{"rendered":"Two sides of the Zimbabwean picture | perception versus reality"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_76 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a02c137d6403\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a02c137d6403\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/destinations\/two-sides-of-the-zimbabwean-picture-perception-versus-reality.htm\/#a_little_history\" >A Little History<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/destinations\/two-sides-of-the-zimbabwean-picture-perception-versus-reality.htm\/#hyperinflation_and_protests\" >Hyperinflation and Protests<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/destinations\/two-sides-of-the-zimbabwean-picture-perception-versus-reality.htm\/#hoping_for_a_brighter_future\" >Hoping for a Brighter Future<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/destinations\/two-sides-of-the-zimbabwean-picture-perception-versus-reality.htm\/#tourism_and_travel\" >Tourism and Travel<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/destinations\/two-sides-of-the-zimbabwean-picture-perception-versus-reality.htm\/#looking_at_zimbabwe_differently\" >Looking at Zimbabwe differently<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>It is ironic that the perception of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/cheap-flights-to\/zimbabwe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Zimbabwe<\/a> has become what it has in recent years. The privileged western populace is quick to recall that image which has been dictated to them by the news and the mainstream media about Zimbabwe. We, however, would like to educate our customers and the wider audience, that despite what is being televised and published on our TVs and mobile phones, all is not lost in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe still is and will always remain the country of the magnificent Victoria Falls and the galloping troops of exotic animals. The economic situation has taken its toll on the country but not on its wildlife and the Zimbabwean culture at large.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"a_little_history\"><\/span>A Little History<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-43661 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"History of Zimbabwe\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog.jpg 1980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In November of 2017, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe was deposed in a brief military coup. President Mugabe was in power for almost 40 years, ever since the country gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1980. At the time of the coup, Robert Mugabe was 93 years old, and the talk of succession naturally began to escalate among the influential gentry of Zimbabwean society. After a show of force and with the backing of the military, Emmerson Mnangagwa became the next President of Zimbabwe. President Mnangagwa now faces an avalanche of challenges that include the debilitating inflation of the Zimbabwean currency, poverty, illiteracy and corruption.<\/p>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"hyperinflation_and_protests\"><\/span>Hyperinflation and Protests<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-43662 size-large aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog5-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Zimbabwe after hyperinflation and protests\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog5-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog5-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog5-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog5.jpg 1980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The inflation in Zimbabwe is legendary. Before abandoning its previous currency in 2009, the Zimbabwean Central Bank issued a two hundred trillion dollar banknote that was only worth 30 pennies here in the UK. Since then a newer currency has been introduced which is still losing value in the open market. Recently, there has been an escalation of protests in the country. The new government recognises that budget cuts need to be made to keep the country functioning. Therefore, the government has decided to stop subsidising fuel for the masses, which has increased the petrol price by 50% overnight. People affected by this sudden but inevitable hike in fuel price are protesting, as they witness their livelihoods crumble and the economic situation worsens around them. According to the latest news, the internet service has been shut down, and many shops are also closed.<\/p>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"hoping_for_a_brighter_future\"><\/span>Hoping for a Brighter Future<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-43663 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog4-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Hoping for brighter future in Zimbabwe\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog4-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog4-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog4-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog4.jpg 1980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>At this point, Zimbabwe needs foreign capital and investor confidence reestablished in the country. The new government has been dealt with the worst hand, and it has only but few options. Most of the people of Zimbabwe have abandoned their currency, which continues to devalue over time, and have started using the US Dollar and the South African Rand. What Zimbabwe needs now are investors and visitors who can recognise the country\u2019s massive potential and build businesses, creating wealth not only for themselves but also for the Zimbabweans who deserve so much more from life.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"tourism_and_travel\"><\/span>Tourism and Travel<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-43664 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog3-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Travel and Tourism in Zimbabwe\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog3-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog3.jpg 1980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Nature is free. The rain continues to fall in the Hwange National Park without taxing any of its inhabitants, be it the humans or the vast array of animals living in the park. Zimbabwe is still rich. Zimbabwe is rich in wildlife and the most beautiful landscapes. It is among those few countries that still have vibrant ecologies which have not been harmed or encroached by the reckless \u201chuman development\u201d. The food grown here is organic. Zimbabweans eat what-is-of-the-earth and are fully harmonised with the cycle of nature and transcendence of life. They offer the same natural experience to thousands of tourists who visit their country each year, even during troubling times.<\/p>\n<p>It is not a bad deal overall. The tourists from Europe get a cheap vacation when they visit Zimbabwe and are reminded of the fact that outside our concrete jungles there is a planet teeming with life. The Zimbabweans, on the other hand, get a chance to showcase their culture and earn the much need foreign capital to provide medical care and schooling for the public.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"looking_at_zimbabwe_differently\"><\/span>Looking at Zimbabwe differently<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-43665 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog2-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Looking at Zimbabwe differently\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog2.jpg 1980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As Britons, we need to mend our distorted and lopsided view of Africa in general and Zimbabwe in particular. What the news portrays is only one side of the picture. The roads in Zimbabwe are not always choked with protesters. There are days in this country when the Zimbabwean sun is shining bright, and there is nothing much to do except soak the healing rays of the sun. The giraffes are still nibbling the thorny but seemingly delicious treetops, the elephants are bathing in the water hole and coating themselves with fresh mud, and the lions are still eyeing the herd of zebras that scatter at the faintest rustle of the grass. Surprisingly, the fantastic nature in Zimbabwe is not reported as fervently as the burning of tires somewhere in Harare.<\/p>\n<p>Plan a trip to Zimbabwe such that you can interact with the people of the country at a higher level. Purchase food and items from local businesses, and if you can manage, please spend a night or two at a local hotel. It will help the people directly, and you would have a far richer experience of Zimbabwe as compared to spending the night hiding in a luxury hotel, barricaded behind mahogany doors without gaining any insight in the African culture. Zimbabwe is still safer than some parts of the UK and the US where it would be impossible to take a walk around the neighbourhood without getting mugged.\u00a0 We must understand that the news is almost always politically motivated. Doing a bit of research and taking precautions is better than stonewalling the idea of visiting a country like Zimbabwe altogether. Always take into consideration the travel advisory issued by the British government, wherever you are travelling. We wish the reader many liberating travels and hope that you too will fulfil your dream of having an African vacation this year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It is ironic that the perception of Zimbabwe has become what it has in recent years. The privileged western populace is quick to recall that image which has been dictated to<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47,"featured_media":43661,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,5],"tags":[2585,2599,44],"hashtags":[],"class_list":["post-43660","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-destinations","category-experts-advice","tag-tourism","tag-travel","tag-zimbabwe"],"aioseo_notices":[],"fimg_url":"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/25january-blog.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43660","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43660"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43660\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45721,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43660\/revisions\/45721"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43661"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43660"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43660"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43660"},{"taxonomy":"hashtags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelhouseuk.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtags?post=43660"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}