“Kudliwe Imali Ye-Ink”: Mzansi in Stitches After Seeing Alleged Handwritten Zimbabwe Plane Tickets

• A video showing an alleged handwritten Zimbabwe plane ticket left South Africans amused and shocked
• The unusual sight sparked debates about travel standards and the struggles in Zimbabwe’s economy
• The viral clip spread widely on social media as humour and concern mixed in online conversations
• Briefly News spoke to Messiah, a flight attendant, to gain insight and to understand what really happens behind the scenes in the aviation industry

South Africans laughed and debated after seeing alleged handwritten plane tickets linked to Zimbabwe’s struggling economy.

On 1 October 2025, content creator @psaflive posted a TikTok that left South Africans amused and puzzled. The video featured a photo of an alleged Zimbabwe plane boarding pass that appeared to be handwritten. The unusual sight raised questions about airline operations in Zimbabwe and quickly caught the attention of online viewers.

The post tapped into wider discussions about the struggling Zimbabwean economy and its impact on everyday life. Handwritten boarding passes seemed outdated, and many wondered whether the photo was real or part of a bigger joke. Either way, it reflected concerns about infrastructure and the challenges faced by travellers in the region.

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Online reactions mixed humour with concern

Within hours, the video spread quickly across social media, gaining thousands of views and shares. The strange nature of the boarding pass made it an easy talking point, with people adding memes, jokes, and sarcastic remarks to the mix. Its virality showed how quickly unusual content can capture collective attention online.

The reactions combined both humour and worry, as South Africans laughed at the idea while also expressing concern about what it meant for safety and travel standards. The balance between comedy and criticism made the clip one of the more memorable viral moments of the week.

Messiah explained that while most airlines have moved to digital systems for ticketing and documentation, manual or handwritten processes can still occur in certain regions. He noted that some smaller or regional airports across parts of Africa, including Zimbabwe, still rely on manual methods due to limited access to advanced digital infrastructure.

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“From my experience, most airlines today have shifted to digital systems for tickets and documentation, especially for check-in and boarding. But in smaller or regional countries, like some we see in parts of Africa, including Zimbabwe, it’s not uncommon for certain processes to still rely on manual or handwritten systems. This can happen when there’s limited access to digital infrastructure because of their airports, so they sometimes use handwritten tickets during system outages, or simply as a backup procedure. As crew, we’re trained to adapt to both digital and manual systems to ensure smooth operations and accurate record-keeping.”

He also shed light on what passengers don’t usually see: the work that goes on behind the scenes before every flight. Messiah shared that flight attendants are responsible for far more than serving food and drinks; they undergo extensive training to ensure passenger safety in every situation.

“To answer the second question, what happens behind the scenes is all safety-related things. We check the equipment and the aircraft’s state before every flight to make sure that everything runs smoothly. Passengers only see the end product, which is us helping them by serving drinks and food, without realising we are literally trained and ready for emergencies.”

Mzansi reacted to the video

Annelia612 wrote:

"As black South Africans, we should not rejoice much. Zimbabwe was once doing well, but that country is where it is today because its politicians hate their citizens. They’re not different from our politicians. If things continue the way they are, we’ll find ourselves begging for jobs, if not our children. Our society is already dealing with inequality and poverty; let’s rather be harsh with our politicians."

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Diana Kabi said:

"It’s giving Zimbabwe. 😩"

Layidzani Tapela commented:

"Guys, is this true? Because wow."

Ruva_rashe wrote:

"I don’t think it's really a big deal. I’m a student in Malaysia, and this has happened to me not in Zimbabwe, but in Malaysia, because the machines were down."

Chikomborelo wrote:,

"I’m sure someone is selling biscuits through the windows, too."

Thabo786 wrote:

"As a Zimbabwean, I would like to pronounce... 'Someone is against us.’”

Didi88 commented:

"Hard times don’t last."

Blessing said:

"Guys, destination, destination. That’s what matters. 😂"

Check out the TikTok video below:

3 other Briefly News stories about Zimbabwe

• Miss Universe Zimbabwe Lyshanda Moyas was crowned at a glamorous event in Harare on May 17, 2025, succeeding Sakhile Dube.
• A UK traveller expressed shock on social media at finding deodorant priced at $2.80 in a Zimbabwe grocery store.
• South African radio personality Sizwe Dhlomo was taken aback by a Zimbabwean airline boarding pass.

Source: Briefly News