adminMashudu Netsianda Senior Reporter
BEITBRIDGE Border Post on Wednesday recorded a sharp decline in the volume of both human and vehicular traffic as scores of Zimbabweans braved the chilly weather to cast their votes in the harmonised elections.Zimbabweans constitute the highest number of travellers who use Beitbridge Border Post daily.
The Government declared Wednesday a public holiday to allow people enough time to participate in the just ended harmonised elections.
In an interview yesterday, the assistant regional immigration manager-in-charge of Beitbridge Border Post, Mr Charles Gwede, said they handled 8 509 travellers on both exit and entry sides, a sharp decline compared to an average of 16 000 passing through daily.
“The number of travellers who passed through Beitbridge Border Post on Wednesday drastically went down compared to normal days and this could be largely because most people were busy casting their votes in their respective constituencies hence they had to suspend travelling.
“Notably, the border post was relatively quiet even during the days in the run up to the elections. On Wednesday, we recorded 3 700 travellers on the arrival side while on the departure section we handled 4 809 travellers yet on a normal day, we handle an average of 16 000 people on both sides,” he said.
Mr Gwede, however, said they anticipated an increase in the movement trend during the weekend.
“We are likely to return to the usual numbers over the weekend particularly on the exit side and as more people, especially Zimbabweans who had come to vote would be returning to South Africa.
“As immigration authorities we are prepared to assist travellers as they enter and leave the country,” he said.
Beitbridge Border Post is the busiest inland port of entry in sub-Saharan Africa and it handles between 10 000 and 16 000 travellers daily with the figures rising to 25 000 during peak periods such as holidays and month-ends.
Millions of Zimbabweans flocked different polling stations across the country to cast their votes in an elections that was described as peaceful.
Online Reporter