Harare - Zimbabwe's government has closed down 30 restaurants, lodges and suspected brothels in Harare in a crackdown on unlicensed businesses as part of a drive to boost its depressed tourism industry, officials said on Friday.
The once buoyant tourism sector has collapsed in the face of a crumbling economy, chronic fuel shortages and concerns about reports of lawlessness in rural areas.
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive Karikoga Kaseke said the southern African country was working to lure foreign and domestic visitors to its tourist cites - including the famous Victoria Falls - and was cleaning up the sector.
"We are going after facilities that are not fully licensed and registered with the ZTA, and that is why we have closed down some 30 facilities here in Harare, including some suspected brothels," Kaseke said on Zimbabwe television.
"Brothels are illegal, and we have restaurants and lodges which have ignored our many appeals over the last few months to register their operations," he said.
Kaseke was speaking on a news programme which also showed a scantily-dressed young woman sitting on a bed with a pile of condoms in one of the closed brothels.
Environment and Tourism Minister Francis Nhema also told ZTV the government had launched the crackdown to protect the country's high tourism standards.
Zimbabwe's tourism attractions include one of Africa's largest elephant populations and spectacular scenery.
Government critics say the industry has been badly hurt by President Robert Mugabe's policies including his seizures of white-owned farms for redistribution to blacks.
Mugabe says Zimbabwe's economy is a victim of sabotage by domestic and Western opponents angry over his nationalist policies aimed at empowering the black majority.