Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
The Department of Immigration recently held a sports tournament in the border town of Beitbridge to promote safe migration and raise awareness about drug trafficking through the borders.
The programme themed “a fight against human smuggling and drug trafficking” was part of the department’s efforts to raise funds for charity and the proceeds from the tournament were channelled to Takalani Children’s Home, an organisation handling issues related to do with vulnerable migrants in the border town.
Eight soccer and netball teams gathered at Mabidi Stadium to compete in support of the charity cause.
The teams were drawn from various Government departments and law enforcement agencies to promote teamwork and camaraderie at the same time, highlighting the importance of combating human smuggling and drug trafficking.
Regional Immigration officer in charge of the southern region (Beitbridge, Masvingo, Chiredzi and Sango), Mr Joshua Chibundu, said the event was a huge success.
“We have also invited our counterparts from South Africa, realising that the issues of irregular migration and trafficking are a trans-border challenge,” said Mr Chibundu.
“We are all winners today, we managed to gather with one vision, one cause and a sense of unity to reduce irregular migration and drug trafficking at the same time, looking at the plight of vulnerable migrants, mostly young children.
“Some of these we are helping get stranded since they will be unaccompanied and we applaud the authorities at Takalani Children’s Home for a great job they are doing in taking care of vulnerable migrants.”
The soccer teams included Busters, Immigration Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, Superstrikers, Rovers, Inspectors, Zimborders, Immigration South Africa and these are made mostly from other law enforcement agencies participating in the tournament.
The netball teams included Rovers, Superstrikers, Trust Me, Immigration Zimbabwe, Zimra, Zimborders/Inspectors and ZINARA.Mr Chibundu said the sports tournament was part of their efforts to engage with the community and raise awareness about the dangers of human smuggling and drug trafficking.
“We are grateful for the support from participating teams and the community of Beitbridge so far,” he said.
He said it was important for the border agencies from both South Africa and Zimbabwe to engage in both formal and social environments to build relations that will translate into efficient service delivery through the border.
“It is critical that we collaborate with line stakeholders to raise awareness about the importance of combating human smuggling and drug trafficking and substance abuse,” said Mr Chubundu.“Events like these seek to promote community engagement and teamwork among law enforcement agencies and Government departments”.
Takalani Children’s Home founder, Mrs Florence Ncube, commended the Department of Immigration for hosting the tournament and donating all proceeds to the institution.
“This is wonderful; we are grateful for the support we are getting towards the cause of vulnerable young migrants, some of whom are of school-going age,” she said.
“At the moment, we have seven children, most of whom have failed to trace their families and they need a lot of support.”
Online Reporter