Russia and Zimbabwe on the Verge of Visa-Free Travel

The Russian Ambassador to Harare, Nikolai Krasnikov, revealed in an interview with Izvestia that a draft agreement between Russia and Zimbabwe on the introduction of a visa-free regime is currently under consideration by the African side. According to him, the countries may sign the document as early as November, when a meeting of the bilateral Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Trade, and Scientific-Technical Cooperation will be held in Moscow.

Currently, a single-entry visa to Zimbabwe can be obtained at the border crossing point for a fee of $30. It is advisable to have documents confirming the purpose of the visit.

According to the diplomat, passenger traffic to the country remains low due to the lack of direct flights and the high cost of tickets. Currently, it is possible to get to Zimbabwe from Russia with a transfer in the UAE, Qatar, or Ethiopia.However, the introduction of a visa-free regime could change the situation.

Krasnikov also said that Harare has consistently expressed interest in attracting tourists from Russia. He noted that in Victoria Falls and other regions of Zimbabwe, there is a tourist infrastructure that is above the average African level.

Tourists may be attracted by natural attractions such as Victoria Falls, one of the largest in the world in terms of width and height. In addition, in Zimbabwe, you can go on safari or engage in extreme sports such as rafting and bungee jumping.

In recent years, Russia has been actively working to ensure visa-free travel with African states. Russians can travel freely to Tunisia, Morocco, Cape Verde, Gambia, Sao Tome and Principe, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa,Mozambique, Malawi, the Seychelles, and Mauritius.