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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
THE Department of Immigration’s regional compliance and enforcement unit has over the last seven days rounded up 567 people at the Beitbridge Border Post as it intensifies its operation to prevent illegal migration between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The move is meant to curtail criminal activities, among them border jumping, touting, the use of fake immigration stamps, and fake travel documents that are synonymous with a surge in human traffic.
The head of compliance at Beitbridge, Assistant Regional Immigration Officer Mrs Canisia Magaya, said they were not relenting and urged people to embrace legal and safe migration methods.
“In a bid to continuously weed out undesirables in the border, the Department of Immigration has intensified operations within the border. These operations target wheeler dealers, touts, and irregular travellers,” said Mrs Magaya.
“In the past week, the Department recorded 567 arrests. A total of 561 Paid fines while six were prosecuted. Of the six, one was warned and cautioned while 5 got 1 month wholly suspended for five years We are happy with the outcome as it will serve as a warning to would be offenders”.
Mrs Magaya said they were targeting all known hotspots and areas where the undesirable elements and immigrants/migrants usually operate from.
She warned border users that those who are caught on the wrong side of the law will be dealt with accordingly.
She said the compliance operations will remain in force for a very long time.
“At the same time, as we continue to enforce the law, we are also educating travellers and the general Beitbridge community on the need to embrace safe migration methods,” said Mrs Magaya.
She said the introduction of automated and biometrics-related services had also helped them to better manage illegal activities at the border.
The border post is an access point for close to 15 000 travellers, 3 000 private cars, 200 buses and 1 200 commercial trucks daily and it was recently upgraded by the Government in partnership with the Zimborders Consortium.
The border authorities are targeting those travellers using the New Freight Terminal, the bus terminal, border parameters, north and south entry gates and the sections of the light vehicle, commonly referred to as the “Malume Zone.”
“We are determined to make the new look border a world-class facility that is closed to illegal activities but open to genuine travellers,” said Mrs Magaya.
She said besides fighting to curb and eliminate irregular migration at the border, they want to minimise the issue of genuine travellers falling prey to touts who misdirect and rob them of their hard-earned money.
Mrs Magaya advised travellers to always abide by the set down rules to avoid unnecessary situations.
She said they must avoid the use of wheeler-dealers or touts who besides leading them astray often rob many of their money in botched deals.
“It is important for the travellers to cooperate with our officials for customised services at the three terminals,” she said.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter