Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
THE Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Cde Barbara Rwodzi, has said the transformation of the Beitbridge Border Post at a cost of US$300 million has 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.
Minister Rwodzi is on a three-day working visit to the border post, which is now a hive of activity with travellers entering and leaving the country ahead of Christmas Day and New Year’s Holiday.
The initiative is aimed at welcoming returning residents and international visitors during the festive season.
The minister said under the current set up 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 when 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,” she added.
“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.”
Minister Rwodzi said travellers are now spending less than 20 minutes walking through the border post, provided they have the requisite documents.
Previously people would spend anything from three hours to 36 hours at the border before its transformation in 2021.
Minister Rwodzi appreciated the team work and co-ordination among border agencies, which has made addressing operational challenges easy on the spot.
“We are happy about the support the Government is giving to border agencies here. As tourism, this is good for us and we value the Zimbabwean diaspora, which is travelling now for the festive season,” she said.
“So, it is very critical that as ministries responsible for the borders we create a seamless passage for them to come to an investment home. We need to promote a culture that ensures we offer quality services at our borders.
“It’s pleasing to note that most of the people we are seeing here have been cleared and are awaiting buses and vehicles, which are still to proceed from our neighbouring country.”
Minister Rwodzi also had an opportunity to interact with travellers and get feedback on service delivery at the border.
She also handed out drinking water, tourism brochures, t-shirts, and the national fabric, among other things.
“We have had interactions with travellers to welcome them and get feedback and the response from them is very positive. It is our objective as the Government to make sure people don’t spend a long time waiting to be processed at the border,” Minister Rwodzi said.
“We expect many people to come through as we get closer to Christmas Day,” she added.
Minister Rwodzi also commended the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) and the Zimborders Consortium for ensuring vehicles were crossing the border without being bogged down by technical glitches.
“Zimbabwe is the number one must-visit destination according to Forbes magazine this year, and this has been made possible through our President’s policy that ensures Zimbabwe is a friend to all and an enemy to none,” said Minister Rwodzi.
The assistant regional immigration officer-in-charge of Beitbridge station, which falls under the southern region (Beitbridge, Sango, Masvingo and Chiredzi) Mrs Canisia Magaya said so far they had cleared 269 075 travellers between December 1 and December 19 this year.
Last year they processed 305 410 travellers in the same period, however, the numbers are expected to peak this week.
