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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
South Africa has deployed more immigration officers to Beitbridge Border Post to match the efficiency of the new improved border post on the Zimbabwean side and so facilitate quick movement of human and vehicular traffic during the traditionally busy festive season.
South Africa’s Border Management Authority spokesperson Mr Stephen van Zeel said they had opened more work stations at the border post to clear the rising non-commercial traffic.
“We are ready to handle the traffic through the Beitbridge border post where we have started to witness an increase in non-commercial traffic,” he said. “So, we have deployed more immigration officers from less busy stations and opened more work stations and clearing booths within the border.
“In addition to that, we have created more traffic lanes to ensure that vehicles don’t clog the border and the major highway linking the border and Musina town.”
South Africa cleared higher volumes of traffic on Sunday after main companies carried out annual shutdowns on Friday and Saturday.
Mr van Zeel said their main objective was to cater for the pre-festive season movement, the post-festive season period and the re-opening of schools in the New Year.
“The movement of traffic is smooth after we cleared most of the travellers on Sunday evening,” he said. “We expect the traffic volumes to go higher at the end of the week and we urge travellers to avoid crossing in the last days of the Christmas holiday to avoid unnecessary delays.
“Motorists are advised to carry with them the necessary documents required for them to cross borders and also to comply with marshals so that their clearance becomes seamless.”
The South Africans were also ready to deal with those that may want to break the various immigration laws capitalising on increased traffic.
The Border Management Authority was launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa in October in Musina and is tasked with ensuring that immigration laws are enforced, and that the borders are well-protected and ports of entry well-managed.
The new authority became the third armed service in South Africa after the South African Defence Force and the South African Police Service.
The first officers of the new BMA border guard were deployed in July this year at vulnerable segments of the border, including informal crossings.
South Africa Revenue Services spokesperson Mr Sipithi Sibeko said: “We are in control witnessing the normal high traffic volume during this time of the year.”
In separate interviews, travellers said yesterday that things were getting better on the South African side.
“Efficiencies have improved, they have opened more service centres. Only motorists without proper documents are the one experiencing some delays,” said a traveller who identified himself only as Mr Zhou.
A Zimbabwean border authority said they were clearing commercial traffic destined for South Africa in batches.
“Our counterparts have opened more space for non-commercial traffic to avoid clogging the N1. So we are pushing trucks in small batches and hence the long queues of trucks on the Zimbabwean side. However, these have all been cleared,” said the official.
The regional immigration officer in charge of southern region for Zimbabwe Mr Joshua Chibundu said they had deployed enough manpower at the border.
He said operations will be continually reviewed depending on the situation on the ground. Mr Chibundu said on Thursday they cleared a total of 19000 travellers at the port of entry. During off peak time authorities clear around 12 000 people daily and the number rises two fold especially on major holidays.
Zimborders Consortium chief executive officer, Mr François Diedrechsen said: “We are now processing large volumes of non-commercial vehicles but Zimborders and Government agencies are all doing an incredible job in making sure crossing times are as quick and efficient as possible.”
He said transporters and travellers also need to be complimented for their cooperation with border agencies.
Under its partnership with the government, to transform the port of entry, the consortium is managing and maintaining the border infrastructure for the next 17 years, before handing it to the former.
Zimra said in a statement that it has invested in ICT facilities and deployed additional staff to Beitbridge border post.
Statistics from the Zimbabwe National Road Administration show that between December 1 and 15, over 15 000 light vehicles and nearly 16 000 commercial trucks passed through Beitbridge.
Online Reporter