HARARE – Suluman Chimbetu’s trip to Australia was hanging in the balance on Monday after a two-hour ZIMRA hold up at the Harare International Airport ate into the time meant to finalise the tour down under.
Sulu and Orchestra Dendera Kings band members returned home yesterday for a brief stopover after a trip to the United Kingdom.
The stopover was meant to finalise the trip to Australia but they had not bargained for a “thorough search” by the ZIMRA officials at the airport.
Speaking after his ordeal, Suluman said the officials went through his bags in search of goods liable for import duty. The popular musician believes the new equipment ZIMRA use at the airport should be good enough to scan through bags instead of the manual search he was subjected to, costing him a valuable two business hours in the process.
“ZIMRA yandipinza busy wangu nhasi, kumhanyamhaya kwose kwatonhodzwa as they asked me to remove all the items in my luggage, it was a mockery for us in front of foreigners. I know that they will be discharging their duties but these times of advanced technology, it is better for them to do the scanning other than delaying us for so long.”
Sulu added that ZIMRA should be thorough and sterner on those bringing in equipment and blank CDs for piracy and not target musicians who are battling to survive.
“Instead of promoting musicians by being stern on those pirating our music, they want to hit us hard pahungwenjere ngwenjere hwedu hwatirikubva kunoshava kunze uko.
“As we speak, I am virtually on transit we are not resting as a band since we are supposed to leave the country tomorrow (today) for Australia where we are expected to perform. Besides this, our trip was successful and we were well received and supported by a number of people who attended our shows,” said Suluman.
Contacted for comment ZIMRA spokesperson Canisio Mudzimu promised to respond to written questions. H Metro
