Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
OVER 19 000 visitors passed through Beitbridge Border Post, linking South Africa, Zimbabwe and six other countries on January 7, underlining its status as one of the busiest land border crossing.
In a recent statement, South Africa’s Border Management Commissioner, Dr Michal Masiapato, said the festive season’s movement figures indicate sustained activity at the leading ports.
He said OR Tambo International Airport recorded 24 542 movements on January 7 followed by Beitbridge Port of Entry, which took the second spot by processing 19 924 movements on the same day, while Lebombo Port of Entry recorded 18 887 movements.
During off-peak periods, the border processes at least 12 000 travellers, 100 buses, 1000 trucks, 300 light vehicles daily, which include citizens from Malawi, Angola, Zambia, DRC, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and international visitors.
However, in December, the number of buses being processed daily averaged 250, light vehicles 1300, and commercial trucks 1000 daily.
Already, Zimbabwe has transformed its side of the border at a cost of US$300 million in a private-public partnership concession with the Zimborders consortium, while the South Africans have started the processes to upgrade infrastructure on their border to match the growth in number in terms of regional and international travel and trade.
“Operations at all operational Ports of Entry across South Africa continue uninterrupted, despite heightened traveller volumes and intensified law enforcement activities,” said Dr Masiapato.
“Recent movement figures indicate sustained activity at the country’s leading ports, with OR Tambo International Airport recording 24 542 movements on January 7, followed by Beitbridge Port of Entry, which has taken the second spot by processing 19 924 movements on the same day, while Lebombo Port of Entry recorded 18 887 movements.”
Assistant Regional Immigration officer-in-charge, Beitbridge, Mrs Canisia Magaya, said in December last year they processed a total of 437 372 travellers, which included 263 575 arrivals and 173 797 departures.
In addition, she said, in the same month the Department handled 3 640 travellers going either side of the border for violating our laws and we refused entry to 27 others for various reasons, including not having visas to enter Zimbabwe.
She said the department is not relenting on its quest to maintain safety and security of travellers and ensuring there is a flawless flow of traffic this festive season.
“We also advise travellers to plan their journeys and also consider travelling during off-peak periods, typically in the early morning or late evening to avoid delays and they also need to keep monitoring official updates or announcements from Zimbabwean authorities regarding border operations,” said Mrs Magaya.
During her recent visit in December to the border, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi said the transformation of the Beitbridge border post for US$300 million had set the pace for the growth of tourism in the country, with more regional and international travellers now appreciating the enhanced efficiency systems at the country’s busiest port of entry.
She also noted that the automation of services and permanent separation of traffic has become a game-changer as the Government pushes its ease of doing business thrust.
She was on a three-day working visit to the border post aimed at welcoming returning residents and international visitors during the festive season.
She said under the current setup, where traffic has been permanently separated into commercial, buses, light vehicles and pedestrians’ terminals, travellers were now spending less time as compared to previous years they would spend days at the port of entry.
“An efficient border is critical in facilitating the growth of tourism within the country,” said Minister Rwodzi.
“We are here in Beitbridge border post, which is now busy as the festive traffic is peaking. I want to thank our President (Mnangagwa) for the support to Government agencies here that is coming through the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion and that of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, among other ministries.
“Most services are now automated and the new online border management system and electronic gates (eGates) at the immigration section have turned a new leaf on service delivery.”
She said travellers were now spending less than 20 minutes walking through the border post, provided they had the requisite documents.
Previously, people would spend anything from three hours to 36 hours at the border.
