admin
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
Zimbabwean and South African authorities have started rolling out a harmonised plan to clear traffic at the Beitbridge border post to minimise issues of delays and congestion during the Easter holidays.
Already Zimbabwe is operating with three terminals catering for specified traffic including freight, buses and light vehicles and pedestrian.
The border has also been automated to minimise human interface between border agencies and travels, a set up that for a long time been attributed as the major cause of rent seeking activities.
The Government and the Zimborders Consortium have completed transforming the port of entry in a project implemented through a private public partnership.
A total of US$300 million was committed to the initiative that also came with the construction of a new fire station, an animal plant and quarantine, a new sewer oxidation dam, 220 houses for border agencies and the construction of a 11, 4, mega litres water reservoir.
The acting head of immigration services at Beitbridge, Mr Trustworthy Manatsire, said traffic had relatively increased at the border and that they anticipate the figures to surge towards the weekend.
“We are using the December template that includes, increased staff deployment, increased communication among agencies and our South African counterparts.
“To get things moving, we held an Inter-border stakeholders meeting with our counterparts across the border on Monday and we greed on ways to ride and improve on the December festive period plan which itself was a huge success.
“So far, we have witnessed increased movement starting from last week after the closing of schools”.
Mr Manatsire said they had started clearing a significant number of people travelling early for Easter Holiday.
He said they have now moved from an average of 8000 travellers daily to 10000 people and they expect the numbers to continue increasing as the week progresses.
Travellers are being cleared as fast as they come and the border is free from congestion and long queues.
Zimborders Consortium chief executive officer, Mr Francois Diedrechsen said, “Things are currently running well and we are just busy sorting out some post construction snags but almost there and the flow of traffic is seamless.
He said they were clearing an average of 800 commercial trucks daily at the freight terminals while the bus and the light vehicles could handle up to 300 and 3500 cars daily.
The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) is encouraging travellers arriving in the country with foreign registered vehicles to make use of the electronic Temporary Import Permit facility (eTIP) rather than starting with the process upon arrival at the point of entry.
South African border officials have also started separating traffic into light vehicles, pedestrians, buses and commercial and deploying additional staff.
Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety spokesperson, Ms Tidimalo Chuene said they had sufficiently braced for high traffic volumes expected in the province over the next few days.
“The Transport Regulation team has already started to heighten visibility to curb infringements and encourage good driver behaviour with Pre-Easter traffic law enforcement roadblocks and speed operations on critical roads across the province,” she said.
“Law enforcement officers will be working around the clock between the 6th and 10th of April to maximize visibility and aid the flow of traffic, especially on critical routes prone to congestion.
These include the N1 especially around tollgates, R101, R510, R516, N11, R37, R555, R521, R524, R523, R36, R40, R71, R81, P277/1, Matlala road, some local routes, and the two border posts in the province, that is Beitbridge and Groblersbrug”.
Limpopo’s Member of Executive Committee (MEC) responsible for Transport and Community Safety, Ms Florence Radzilani yesterday called on all road users to ensure everyone’s safety over the long weekend.
She also urged law enforcement agents to continue to conduct their work with diligence and ensure that road users follow the rules and that those who engage in criminal activities are brought to book.
“As we approach the Easter long weekend, it is our wish as the Provincial Government, that we should all arrive alive. However, road safety starts with all of us,” said Ms Radzilani.
“As we embark on our journeys, let us make sure that our cars are roadworthy, we keep a safe following distance, we do not overtake at unsafe places, we do not drink and drive, and we rest enough on long journeys.
“Pedestrians, must wear visible colours at night, and keep away from the road. Let’s all arrive alive “.
Online Reporter