Online Reporter
The Herald, 10 March 1981
BADLY behaved people or people shabbily dressed should be turned away from hotels, the Deputy Minister of Information and Tourism, Mrs Victoria Chitepo, said yesterday.
Addressing the annual meeting of the Hotel Association of Zimbabwe at the Montclair Hotel in Inyanga, Mrs Chitepo said patrons who use public places like hotels should be properly dressed and behaved.
She said “Organised groups of hooligans who provoke fights and disorderly behaviour at some of our hotels, especially during weekends, can legitimately be denied service on sight.
“We are discussing ways with the Ministry of Home Affairs to bring the full force of the law behind the hotel management in this particular case.
Hooligans and perpetual troublemakers will be apprehended and e denied the regular use of public facilities.”
The hotel industry, she said, should consider as a matter of urgency the promotion of local staff to positions of authority, the provision of equal opportunities and a wage commensurate with work.
Housing for Africans working in hotels, particularly in rural areas, fell far short of the required minimum for a decent living, Mrs Chitepo said. “To be frank, some of the housing is shocking. The Government will not stand idly by and let this situation continue. “I am therefore appealing to you to immediately take steps to rectify the situation.”
On racial attitudes, she said managements of some hotels needed to undergo drastic change in keeping with the new political order.
Lessons for today:
Mrs Chitepo’s insistence on proper conduct in hotels highlights the importance of maintaining safe, respectful public environments. Businesses still need clear policies that protect customers and staff from disorderly behaviour, while ensuring these rules are applied fairly and without discrimination.
The call for appropriate dress and conduct reflects an ongoing principle: professional environments function better with shared standards of etiquette.
Dress codes and conduct expectations should be inclusive, reasonable, and aligned with modern norms but the principle of respectful presentation remains relevant.
