Chronicle Editor
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
Border Agencies at the transformed Beitbridge port of entry said yesterday that they were ready to handle increased traffic during the Easter Holidays between April 7 and April 11.
The number of travellers using the new facility has been averaging 8 000 off peak and 20 000 at peak since Covid-19 travel restrictions were lifted last year.
Beitbridge Border Post now has three terminals catering freight, buses and private vehicles and pedestrians traffic.
This was done under private public partnership between the Government and Zimborders Consortium.
A total of US$300 million has been poured into the project that also came with the construction of five major out of port projects including a fire station, animal plant and quarantine, sewer oxidation dam, 220 border agencies houses and a 11,4 megalitre reservoir.
Zimborders Consortium chief executive officer, Mr Francois Diedrechsen said they will use the same systems they used in December.
“We are ready to enhance a seamless flow of traffic through the port of entry again,” he said.
“Basically, we will be running the same programmes we used in December last year and these were effective.
“You will note that traffic has been separated and there are now more service points at the border, so we don’t anticipate any challenges.”
Mr Diedrechsen said at the moment the traffic flow was normal and that they there busy putting final touches post construction of all three terminals.
The freight terminal was completed under phase one in October 2021, bus terminal in June last year and the private cars terminal in November last year.
The regional immigration officer in charge of Beitbridge, Mr Joshua Chibundu said they had adequate manpower to clear traffic at all the three terminals.
“As usual the border agencies will be using synchronised clearing processes so that we don’t keep travellers longer than necessary at the point of entry,” he said.
“On our side as a department, we have the manpower and are ready to roll.
At the same time, we want to warn travellers against the use of third parties to carryout processes with us.
This can be costly, we don’t have agents, people should be cleared physically to avoid inconveniences”.
Mr Chibundu said their compliance and enforcement team will be working with other security agents at the border to minimise and combat rent seeking activities and irregular migration through all the terminals.
It is understood that the separation of traffic into commercial, buses and light vehicles and passengers’ terminals has made the clearance of seasonal traffic seamless.
In addition, most services have been automated to minimise human interface between travellers and border agencies.
Previously human interface and limited infrastructure has been attributed as the main cause for long delays during peak periods at the port of entry and exit. – @tupeyo
Online Reporter