Tinaye Agere
Sunday Mail Reporter
MORE than 300 000 Zimbabweans returned home for the festive season holidays, accounting for nearly half of all inbound visitors during this period, data from the Department of Immigration shows.
Overall, 607 334 travellers were cleared to enter Zimbabwe during the holiday season, a significant increase from the 445 000 recorded during the same period in 2023.
Meanwhile, more than 434 000 travellers exited the country through official ports of entry to celebrate their holidays elsewhere.
The department was clearing an average of 33 582 travellers daily over the festive season.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, chief immigration officer Ms Respect Gono confirmed that the period was relatively busy.
“The department cleared a total of 607 334 inbound travellers compared to 445 538 the previous year,” she said.
“Over 340 000 returning residents were recorded. A total of 434 069 travellers exited the country during the same period.
“The department was clearing an average of 33 582 travellers a day.”
Hundreds of individuals without proper documentation, she said, were denied entry.
“Over 600 travellers were refused entry for varying reasons, such as fake visas, failure to produce travelling documents, prohibited immigrants, no clear destination and travelling without a visa,” she said.
The rolling out of the Online Border Management System (OBMS) at some of the main ports significantly enhanced efficiency in clearing travellers.
“The rolling out of the Online Border Management System increased efficiency and a seamless flow of travellers,” she said.
The OBMS includes an entry and exit module that synchronises traveller information and biometrics, allowing for faster clearance due to easy access to traveller data and limited human interaction. This module features e-gates, which are automated self-service facilities that use a combination of biometric data and e-passports for traveller clearance.
Ms Gono also highlighted how the system enhanced border security during the holidays.
“Apart from the expeditious clearances and seamless facilitation of entry and exit, the OBMS also enhanced border security through monitoring and improved response to potential security threats. The digitisation of clearance procedures and use of biometrics limited human error, and the system cannot easily be tampered with,” she added.
“The e-gates also addressed the problem of long queues and drastically shortened processing times, thereby decreasing congestion at busier ports of entry.
“It used to take about three minutes to clear a passenger, but this can now be done in seconds. The OBMS helped in reduction of errors and improved travel experience, which is actually the Immigration Department’s vision of providing world-class service.”
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter