Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
THE border management team at Beitbridge Border Post has introduced an express lane for buses carrying Zimbabweans returning from South Africa, a move aimed at speeding up processing and reducing congestion at the country’s busiest port of entry.
Under the new arrangement, buses carrying returnees are escorted directly from the border to the Reception and Support Centre outside the port of entry.
All processing, including profiling, documentation, registration and arrangements for onward transportation, is now conducted at the reception centre instead of being duplicated at both the border and the centre.
Assistant Regional Immigration Officer responsible for Beitbridge, Ms Canisia Magaya, announced the changes during a visit to the border by the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Edgar Moyo, on Thursday.
She said the new system has significantly improved service delivery.
“Previously, the processes would be duplicated at the border and at the Reception and Support Centre. Now buses are given an express lane and escorted directly to the reception centre where everything is done in one place. This is done under the coordination of the District Development Coordinator, Beitbridge,” said Ms Magaya.
She said improved coordination among border agencies has enabled operations to run more efficiently, with any challenges being addressed promptly.
Ms Magaya said the various departments operating at the border are working closely together to ensure returnees are processed quickly and safely.
The border management team said it will continue monitoring the system and make further adjustments where necessary to ensure vulnerable returnees, particularly women and children, receive timely assistance.
The Reception and Support Centre is administered by the Department of Social Services.
Matabeleland South Provincial Social Services Officer, Mr Criswell Nyakudya, said the centre operates 24 hours a day to accommodate the continuous movement of returnees.
He said the facility continues to receive large numbers of Zimbabweans returning from South Africa.
“So far, Harare, Manicaland and Masvingo have received most of the returnees from South Africa,” said Mr Nyakudya.
He added that women and children constitute the largest proportion of those returning.
Mr Nyakudya said social workers stationed at the centre are providing counselling, welfare assistance and information on onward travel to those requiring support.
Government officials said the introduction of the express lane and the one-stop processing system at the reception centre forms part of broader efforts to ensure the repatriation process is more efficient, coordinated and dignified.
Authorities expect the new arrangements to reduce waiting times at the border while improving coordination in transporting returnees to their home provinces.
