Thupeyo Muleya-Beitbridge Bureau
MAITENGWE Border Post, located west of Plumtree, is being upgraded into a solar-powered, fully digitised facility, with the refurbishment expected to be complete by December.
The project includes roofing and ceiling works in the clearance hall, installation of solar power, painting of buildings and the introduction of digital clearance systems to improve efficiency and service delivery.
Chief Director of Immigration, Ms Respect Gono, said the refurbishment was part of efforts to modernise border management systems and improve services for travellers.
“The Department of Immigration is working to enrol digitalisation of Maitengwe Border, hence the refurbishment to enhance a modern border post,” she said.
“Currently, we are using the manual clearance platform, and per day we clear 80 to 100 travellers at Maitengwe.
“You will note that these borders are done for the community, hence leaving no one and no place behind.”
Ms Gono said Maitengwe was the last border post along the Zimbabwe-Botswana border yet to be digitised, following the modernisation and solarisation of Mpoengs, Mlambapele and Plumtree border posts earlier this year.
“Mpoengs, Mlambapele and Plumtree are all now digitalised, which is a positive, and it has been done this year; solarisation as well. Weekly, we process between 15 000 and 25 000 travellers at all four borders,” she said.
“We are working hard to ensure all borders between Botswana and Zimbabwe are upgraded and digitalised. Maitengwe is the only one left, so indeed this is huge.”
The upgrade is expected to reduce clearance times, improve the efficiency of immigration processes and strengthen access to border services for communities living along the Zimbabwe – Botswana border.
Once completed, Maitengwe will join the other three border posts in using digital clearance systems, while solar power is expected to support operations at the facility.
