Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
The Department of Immigration says it has recorded a 39 percent surge in traffic, with 47,909 arrivals being processed between March 27 and April 2, 2026, up from 34,571 during the same period last year.
The officer in charge of Beitbridge Immigration station, Assistant Regional Immigration Officer, Ms Canisia Magaya attributed the increase in traffic to the completion of the US$300 million modernisation project, which streamlined processes and cut on waiting times for travellers.
She added that more Zimbabweans based in South Africa previously failed to travel due to the uncertainty in the extension of the ZEP (Zimbabwe Exemption Permit) permit.
Its extension (ZEP) to the end of July next year has also eased travel, giving hundreds of Zimbabweans based in South Africa another life line and certainty.
Over 170 000 are based in South Africa on the strength of the ZEP permit.
“We have noted an increase in terms of entries into Zimbabwe, last year we cleared 34 571 between march 27 and April 2 while this year we cleared 47 909 during the same period translating to a 38,7% increase in arrivals,” said Ms Magaya.
“In terms of compliance issues we have handled four unaccompanied minors who were handed over to the Department of Social Development and on refusal of entry, we had two that are one American and one South African citizen, who failed to meet our immigration requirement.
“In addition, we have taken five people for prosecution at the courts that is two South Africans, one Congolese and two Malawians. We are very vigilant in terms of enforcing the law during this period working together with other security agencies”.
She said the department had deployed adequate security personnel at the border and that they were carrying out patrols within the border, along major highways and at security roadblocks.
Ms Magaya also warned parents against sending their children unaccompanied without documents across the border.
She also encouraged travellers to always present themselves at the Immigration counters for processing to avoid negative situations when they try to circumvent the processes.
“We have also engaged the South Africans through the Inter-State border committee to share notes and ideas on the best practice to process travellers and that has paid dividends as we are now troubleshooting challenges on a real-time basis,” said Ms Magaya.
