Zimbabwe fines foreign campers
Date: 19 October 2004
Source: BBCAuthor: Anon
Tourists arrested for masquerading as Zimbabweans have been fined by police and released.
The group - 13 South Africans and one Australian - pretended to be Zimbabwean so they could pay lower, local currency, camping fees of $1.
They were fishing along the banks of the Zambezi in Chirundu National Park, along with 12 Zimbabweans.
The group's leader, a Zimbabwean, is facing fraud charges for not telling park officials about the foreigners.
"It was his duty to indicate to the parks officials that there were some foreigners among the group," said police spokesman Olive Mandipaka, AFP news agency reports.
Foreign visitors have to pay the camp fees in US dollars, while Zimbabweans pay with the local Zimbabwean dollar.
Game park authorities were alerted to the group after they saw South African and Australian flags flying over the camping site, raising their suspicions.
After paying their $4.50 fine, police returned their impounded vehicles and the tourists resumed their fishing trip, Mr Mandipaka said.