Activity heightens at border as SA-based Zimbabweans return home

Thupeyo Muleya

Beitbridge Bureau

Activity has heightened at Beitbridge Border Post with many Zimbabweans based in South Africa are making a last-minute rush to get home for the festive season.

Already border authorities from Zimbabwe and South Africa have deployed more manpower to clear peak traffic between December 10 and January 10 next year.

Long and slow-moving moving queues of both vehicles and people have become the order of the day at both components of the border.

A senior Zimbabwean customs official who preferred anonymity said they had deployed more workers at the bus and private vehicles terminal to help with the clearance of motorists who need assistance with the electronic temporary import permits (ETIP).

Statistics from the Department of Immigration show that from December 16 to December 21, a total of 85 846 people arrived in the country through Beitbridge while 34 094 left the country during the same period.

In addition, 75 096 were returning residents and these represented 87 percent of the people who used the border in the last seven days.

Regarding vehicle traffic, a total of 3 087 light vehicles, 2 403 buses and 3 525 trucks entered the border from the South African side of the border.

The assistant regional immigration officer-in-charge of Beitbridge, Mrs Canisia Magaya said they had noted a surge in traffic through the border and that they had deployed enough manpower.

“We are handling an average of 13 976 entries and 6 362 departures daily,” she said.

She added that they had deployed more personnel to all three terminals and tight security was on the ground to enforce compliance and ensure the safety of travelers as they pass through the border.

“Although there is a surge in traffic through the border now, statistics show a 16 percent decline in the number of the people who arrived in the country and a 4 percent drop in the number of people who left the country this year compared to the previous year,” she said.

“Between December 11 and December 22 this year we cleared a total of 153 744 entries against 160 632 we handled in 2023. In addition, we processed 69 992 departures versus 81 235 processed last year during the same period.”

She advised travelers to avoid the use of third parties to clear with the department of immigration since in most cases these turn out to be conmen.

Mrs Magaya said those travelling with children must ensure they have valid passports and the necessary supporting documents.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Hospital, Dr Takaruza Munyanyiwa is already on the ground leading a team to ensure there is a seamless flow of traffic at the border.

“We are here on the ground and happy with the feedback we are getting from travelers coming through Beitbridge Border Post,” said Dr Munyanyiwa.

“What we have noted from most travelers is that there is a need to harmonise payment processes to cut the time they spend in queues paying levies and other compliance fees.

“Generally they are happy with the permanent separation of traffic into cargo, buses, and light motor vehicles.”

In separate interviews, most travelers said they were happy with the ambiance, signage, and separation of traffic at the border.

“I was served well this time around compared to the last three years. I am happy about the introduction of the eTIP system which is a good step by the Government embracing e-governance,” said a motorist who preferred anonymity.

A cross-border transporter identified as Ncube said the separation of traffic was a game changer that has helped reduce the turnaround time at the border.

In previous years, all the traffic would be processed from one building which saw travelers spending a minimum of 24 hours to pass through the border.