adminThupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Organisers of the Tour de Tuli annual expedition which has this year attracted 350 participants from across the globe have moved camp from Zimbabwe to South Africa and Botswana after failing to meet some of the requirements of Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016, it has emerged. The new law, which came into effect on July 1, tightens screws on the import of basic commodities including food items, building material, furniture, toiletries and cooking oil among other things.
The event will be held in the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) between July 31 and 2 August and seeks to market the mega-park as the destination of choice in SADC.
The TFCA is made up of national parks from Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa, with a South African company Children in the Wilderness (CITW) as the main co-ordinator.
Children in the Wilderness publicist, Miss Nirvani Pillay said: “There were changes to import regulations that affected the camp set up and this is the reason. We have every hope that the plan to camp in Zimbabwe will resume for the next event.”
She said overnight camps will now be in Northern Tuli Game Reserve in Botswana and Mapungubwe National Park in South Africa.
Zimbabwe National Parks spokesperson Mrs Caroline Washaya-Moyo said they are dealing with 350 cyclists and 150 staff members although these may change slightly on the first day.
Some drop-outs may be recorded due to injuries and other reasons.
Online Reporter