Tourist’s hell at borders

Revamping the tourism sector features highly in talks about Malawi’s economic progress. But not everything put in place to support the cause is optimally working. SAM KALIMIRA writes.

Livingstonia in Rumphi is a place of many stunning features.

Apart from tourists visiting the Stone House Museum which houses the history of Scottish missionary David Livingstone, the place also provides many vantage points for those eager to enjoy the scenic view of Lake Malawi.

The top of Livingstonia Hill makes the experience worthwhile. But not all is friendly on the entry points which tourists, including those who travel to Livingstonia, use.

A tourist from South Africa, Goaham White, shares his “bitter experience” at the borders.

White says Malawians are friendly people but has no kind words for officials from the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services.

He narrates what he calls terrible ill-treatment he faced at the country’s borders when entering Malawi to patronise tourist attraction sites.

“It is as though they are not happy to see us here. You are made to wait for them for hours even when you see them not doing anything; no explanation whatsoever,” White says.

He entered Malawi through Dedza Border earlier last month and stayed in the country for a week.

White claims MRA and immigration officers are not willing to play their part in improving Malawi’s tourism sector.

“The truth is that Malawi needs tourists for economic development. Imagine a tourist being ill-treated at a border; chances are that they will not return to the country,” he charges.

Director of Livingstonia-based Msasa Eco Tourism Company Kizito Kambalame states that he has heard several tourists complaining that they are not fairly treated at Malawi’s borders compared to other countries.

Kambalame adds that some tourists even complain that there is corruption in the entry points and that they are reluctant to return after such experiences.

“They say when they reach the border, they are tossed left and right so that they can bribe the officers to be allowed access into the country.

“This does not please them; it is even affecting those of us doing business in the tourism sector, especially here in Livingstonia, where they do come to appreciate nature,” Kambalame says.

He adds that the introduction of mining activities in the area is also negatively affecting tourism.

Minister of Tourism Vera Kamtukule said she was aware of the problems but insisted her ministry is collaborating with ministries of Finance and Homeland Security to improve Malawi’s tourism sector.

Kamtukule admitted that negative reviews by tourists have the potential to harm the country’s tourism potential.

“I know that some tourists are kept at the borders for up to four hours before they are cleared. Some are even forced to sleep at the border.

“To make matters worse, they are also harassed at some roadblocks even after they have been properly cleared to enter Malawi. Their vehicles are searched and some officers demand money from them. This is a problem because such acts do not happen in other countries,” Kamtukule said.

She added that her ministry cannot do well if other ministries have not addressed problems such as telecommunication and security challenges.

Ministry of Homeland Security spokesperson Patrick Botha said the ministry has not received any report on the issues raised by the tourists.

However, Botha said the ministry expects high-level professionalism from officers discharging their duties in borders and roadblocks.

“While we have not received any report on the said issues, we urge all those who face challenges be it at the borders or roadblocks to report to relevant authorities,” Botha said.

Spokesperson for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services Willington Chiponde insisted the department values professionalism and good customer service.

Chiponde stated sometimes it is not officers from the department that engage in the malpractices that the tourists complain about.

“Still, we take note of such inevitable hiccups and we will continue inculcating the spirit of professionalism in our officers.

“They must handle every traveller with the courtesy that they deserve. We also urge tourists or any other traveller to report any grievances, with respect to border formalities, to the designated immigration officers at any point of entry,” Chiponde said.

Malawi Tourism Council Chairperson Justin Dzimkambani said they already met with the Ministry of Tourism to consider reviewing laws that affect tourists so that “they speak one language”.

“Visitors come into the country for different reasons, so it is possible that other stakeholders act from a security point of view.

“Therefore, the new laws can help all stakeholders in the tourism industry to work together by not creating difficult pathways for tourists into the country while ensuring that security is not compromised,” Dzimkambani said.

In the meantime, reviews by some tourists who have visited Malawi before are not so positive.