Illegal Ethiopian immigrants remanded

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
POLICE have arrested nine illegal Ethiopian immigrants in Beitbridge who were enroute to South Africa through an illegal crossing point along the Limpopo River.

The group is alleged to have entered the country illegally on February, 19.

They were intercepted on Monday morning at Bubye village, some 80km along the Beitbridge-Masvingo road.

The place has become a popular stop over for illegal immigrants from the Horn of Africa who stay there before proceeding to South Africa.

The nine; Feleke Gabore, Tedeso Hebebo, Belechu Tumere, Makemu Daniele, Duwet Wolde, Debbe Ayele, Ayene Desele, Mesefu Fekele and Tesebe Erago, who are aged between 18 and 25, appeared before Beitbridge resident magistrate Gloria Takundwa on Monday charged with contravening a section of the Immigration Act. They were remanded in custody to March 9, to give the State time to look for an Arabic interpreter.

For the State, Jabulani Mberesi said the nine entered the country illegally and proceeded to Bubye village where they stayed for two days. The group was en route to South Africa through an illegal entry point.The suspects’ journey came to an end when they were intercepted by detectives from the border control unit while they were about to leave for South Africa.

They were asked to produce valid travel documents and when they failed to do so, they were arrested.

The latest case comes a few months after four other Ethiopians were arrested at a service station in Beitbridge while they were on their way to South Africa.

The quartet had entered the country through Victoria Falls with the assistance of a Bulawayo man.

Of late there has been an increase in immigrants from Pakistan, Ethiopia, DRC, and Somalia who enter the country illegally, while setting their sights on South Africa.

They allegedly enter the country through Harare International Airport as well as Nyamapanda, Chirundu, Victoria Falls and Forbes border posts with the assistance of human trafficking syndicates operating in both South Africa and Zimbabwe.