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Harare customs

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McClatchy Newspapers correspondent Shashank Bengali arrives at Harare airport in Zimbabwe fearful of the worst. Fortunately, the rubber glove wasn't needed. The customs officers just wanted drugs,
"Are you carrying drugs?" he asked. I was somewhat relieved. Getting questioned by authorities in Zimbabwe, if you're a foreign visitor, can often involve something more uncomfortable. Secure in the knowledge that I was in fact not here as an international drug smuggler, I nearly smiled as I unlocked my duffel bag for the beady-eyed customs agent. While I did that, he began rifling through my backpack. "Any pornography here?" he said. "Um, no," I replied. I began to wonder what kind of reputation Americans had acquired here -- or had been assigned by that well known hater of the West, President Robert Mugabe. link

1 Comment

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Mwoyo Chirandu | March 14, 2008 1:51 PM

Pornograpgy is illegal in Zimbabwe. And this does not apply to Americans only. Perhaps if you knew that, or just had the courtesy to know the basic laws of the country you were visiting you would not sound so shallow.