adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
POLICE have secured 40 vehicles to intensify patrols along the country’s borders to curb crossborder crime. The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Cde Obedingwa Mguni, said this was part of the significant strides that the government was making to tighten security at the country’s borders.
He said Zimra was supplying the police with the vehicles to fight smuggling, border jumping, cattle rustling, among other crimes.
Zimra loses a large percent of its targeted revenue to smuggling.
“The main challenge that police have in patrolling the border line is that they’re not equipped with vehicles. As a result they conduct their patrols on foot which means they cannot access some points.
“Our border lines don’t have proper roads which patrolling officers can follow. In addressing this, for starters, we’ve identified 40 vehicles which had been confiscated by Zimra officers for various offences which can be suitable for patrols along the border line,’’ he said.
He said his ministry was also in process of securing quotations that would be submitted to the government as part of efforts to beef-up security at all border posts.
Cde Mguni said his recent visit to the country’s borders had shown that the country’s exit and entry points were porous, hence the need for urgent intervention.
He said the vehicles were yet to be deployed to various police bases near border posts.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter