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Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Reporter
GOVERNMENT has reintroduced passes for Binga folks to travel to Zambia unrestricted following a decline in Covid-19 cases in both countries.
Southern Africa recorded low Covid-19 cases during the past winter resulting in Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa among others relaxing Covid-19 regulations.
The villagers just need a clearance letter obtained from the police allowing them to travel to Zambia with Zambians across the Zambezi river which separates the two countries also doing the same.
The system was discontinued following the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020 as part of measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
This disrupted the carrying out of cultural rites, family unions which mostly the Tonga people perform on either side of the border.
However, the decline of Covid-19 cases in both Zimbabwe and Zambia has seen neighbouring countries allowing their citizens to resume travelling between two nations without hindrances.
People pay about US$10 to travel from Zimbabwe to Zambia using boats crossing the Zambezi river that separates the two countries.
A Chronicle news crew observed one of the boats transporting people.
Chief Siansali, who is also a senator, said the Tonga in Zimbabwe have relatives in Zambia and Covid-19 had disrupted their way of life.
As BaTonga we are one community as the Zambian community that is across the river. It was a river that was crossing within a village. You will find out that in one family set up you will find that one brother will be on the Zimbabwean side and the other on the Zambian side,” said Chief Siansali.
He said due to the pandemic they were no longer able to perform cultural rites including attending burials of their relatives across the border.
Chief Siansali said it is pleasing that they can now travel to Zambia without any restriction.
“The border post is the passport on its own. If you are a person from within the district and if you have attachment within Zambia or even without, you are given the pass. We are actually happy because passes are making our people’s lives so easy. Actually, as the BaTonga community we are so happy that we are legally crossing to Zambia through the Binga Border Post which is yet to be named properly,” said Chief Siansali.
Another traditional leader Chief Siachilaba said the use of passes was crucial for community members as it lifts the burden of acquiring passports considering the way they frequent Zambia.
“This makes it easy for everyone, some of our people might find passports to be expensive. But the arrangement we have makes it easy for everyone. So, with just passes our people go to Zambia and come back,” said Chief Siachilaba.
“The reason why most of us visit Zambia is because that is where most of our relatives reside. This is where we come from so when Lake Kariba was being constructed, it led to the Zambezi River expanding to what it is today separating us from our kith and kin. So, we have friends and relatives in Zambia.”
Binga District Development Co-ordinator Mr Kabome Land Siansole said the community is happy that they have freedom of movement.
“Due to Covid-19 it was difficult because we were stopped doing those rituals but we are free to conduct the rituals anytime. The Tonga people are very happy that the Second Republic has afforded that opportunity through that border post,” said Mr Siansole.
He said the operationalising of Binga Border Post is expected to increase regulated trade.
Mr Siansole said the border post will also strengthen economic ties between the two countries.
“The Second Republic made sure that we actually have a border post although not fully fledged at the moment. Our people are crossing to Zambia because before the Kariba Dam was constructed, we were just separated by a small river which expanded, resulting in others staying on this side while others remained in Zambia,” he said. — @nqotshili
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