A South African tourist recently found himself at the center of a viral incident after being issued a US$30 (approximately R560) fine at a police roadblock in Chipinge, eastern Zimbabwe, on February 7, 2026. The incident, which quickly garnered significant attention online, has since prompted a formal apology from Zimbabwean government officials and triggered an internal police investigation into the matter.

The tourist, who stated he was traveling under Trans Africa Self Drive Adventures, detailed his experience in a video shared on social media. He explained that police officers fined him for possessing three emergency warning triangles instead of the four they claimed were required. Expressing his shock and frustration, the tourist highlighted that despite numerous previous trips into Zimbabwe, this was the first time such a demand had been made. He voiced concerns that such treatment could negatively impact Zimbabwe's tourism sector.

His video rapidly circulated online, igniting a widespread debate and drawing criticism from both Zimbabwean and South African netizens. The swift public reaction led to an immediate response from Zimbabwean authorities.

Later on the same day, the tourist posted a follow-up video, revealing that the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbara Rwodzi, had personally contacted him to apologize and promised that action would be taken against the officers involved. The following day, February 8, Minister Rwodzi met the tourist in person, with images and clips of their meeting being widely shared, portraying the government's quick action to safeguard the country's tourism image.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police subsequently confirmed the launch of an internal probe into the conduct of its members. Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi affirmed that the behavior depicted in the video was unacceptable and stated that corrective measures were already underway, reinforcing the police force's stance against unprofessional conduct.