adminmurimo here?, Mai Joice, Mai Joice hande, tinofanira kucrosser kuchiri kuti tsvaa. VekwaMadzibaba handei, vatakacrosser navo nezuro handei.”
This is their clarion call as they board the bus between 2am to 5am to be collected by their shuttler to cross the border along the illegal roads which have come be known as “binya roads” because of the high risk of being mugged along the way, into South Africa.
The Dilibadzimu rank in Beitbridge operates 24 hours, marshals going in and out with hordes of people. They do not go to bed.
This is the life of the illegal immigrants as they try to cross into neighbouring South Africa in search of the ‘El Dorado’, the place of gold as they say.
Despite the deportations that are carried out by the South African government on a daily basis, some Zimbabweans still risk life and limb to cross the border.
The Zimbabwean Government is facing challenges in dealing with the deportees.
However, hope was restored to the deportees after a reception centre was established in Beitbridge close to five years ago, thanks to the International Organisation for Migration.
The centre receives the deportees as they wait to return to their respective homes.
The place also has a social service centre where children without any parents or guardians who can claim them are accommodated while attending school or receiving life-saving skills and sports.
The centre accommodates deportees for only 48 hours after which they are expected to have retraced their steps.
One other facility that the centre offers is the medical facility that caters for those who are HIV positive and who are taking ARVs but whose intake of them would have been affected following their arrest.
Officials refer them to the clinic where they are assisted with resuming taking their ARVs.
However, there are some people who are detained and deported though they have genuine concerns. One of such people is Crammar Chindunga who despite having sought and granted asylum in South Africa, was caught in the crossfire when illegal immigrants were rounded up in South and deported to their homeland.
His asylum papers – that are renewed after every six months – were still valid and he had every legal ground to stay.
In South Africa, Cramer was a successful businessman running a chain of restaurants. He drove top of the range vehicles.
“In South Africa I stay at Number 15 Lorraine Road in Pelham, Johannesburg. I operate PMB Restaurants and I own four vehicles which include an ML Mercedes Benz, which I cannot afford to lose.
“One issue that is worrying me now is that I left my properties in the hands of my cousin and I am afraid he may dupe me. So I am appealing to the Zimbabwean Home Affairs and the IOM to help me to get back to South Africa,” he said.
At the camp the deportees still look confused as they reel from the ill-treatment and shock they suffered at the hands of the South African Police.
One man negotiates for a cigarette which he hopes will relieve stress.
Some grab the tissue papers provided and others have to beg for the tissue papers.
Some deportees are even afraid to approach this photographer.
People are told to choose either to seek assistance from the International Organisation for Migration or to find their own way.
The warm reception they receive at the camp gives them hope and they appear relaxed as they queue for meals.
The inhuman treatment that the deportees experienced in South Africa makes them rue for home and families and they are all anxious to go home.
“It’s better to go home because the treatment we received at Lindella in South Africa was inhuman.
“Of course, we are illegal immigrants but the police were manhandling us in way only fit for the dogs.
“They just bundle you in the van without explaining your position.
“Staying in a foreign land is not a wise decision,” said a lady in her late 30s who declined to be named, as she cradled her young child in her arms.
Online Reporter