Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, [email protected]
AFTER an exhausting overnight bus ride from Gaborone, Mrs Mantombi Chikuni stepped onto Zimbabwean soil at Plumtree Border Post on Tuesday morning with her daughter and two grandchildren. What awaited her was far from the routine crossing she had anticipated. The warm smiles and exceptional service from immigration officials didn’t just ease her fatigue — they rekindled a deep sense of belonging and reminded her why coming home for Christmas in Manicaland means everything.
Their spirits were further lifted when the smiling faces of immigration officers at the border post welcomed them back home as their documents were processed in turn for another long haul to Harare and, eventually, the Eastern Highlands.
“Home is always best, and that is why, as a family, we decided to come back and spend the Christmas and New Year holidays in Chimanimani at our rural home. I was pleasantly surprised by the reception and warm smiles from the officials at the border. The service from the moment we arrived was excellent and reminded us of how special it feels to call ourselves Zimbabweans. It truly is good to be back home.
“I was delighted to be welcomed by the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbara Rwodzi, who gave me a beautiful piece of cloth adorned with bright Zimbabwean flag colours and the national bird.
“The minister took her time to greet travellers, welcome us back home, and distribute water to those who were thirsty. It’s the small gestures like what the minister did, together with the good service from the border officials, that really proved to us that we are always welcome back in our country and that our presence brings joy to family and friends,” said Mrs Chikuni.
Vehicular and human traffic has increased significantly at the Plumtree Border Post as one of the country’s busiest ports of entry records a surge in travellers returning home for the festive season. Foreign visitors are also flocking in for holiday leisure at destinations such as Matopos National Park, Hwange National Park, and the majestic Victoria Falls.
According to the regional immigration officer, Mrs Memory Mugwagwa, an average of 700 vehicles and 15 buses from Botswana pass through the Plumtree Border Post daily as the festive season peaks.
For Mr Michael Mapuranga, who is based in Francistown, being served at the border by someone who speaks a local language was a welcome reminder that he had stepped onto home soil.
“The whole process was smooth and seamless. I took a bit of time getting a TIP (Temporary Import Permit) for my Botswana-registered vehicle. I also noticed that Zimra (Zimbabwe Revenue Authority) has opened more service points to assist motorists applying for TIPs.
“I think the days when travellers used to dread passing through our borders are long gone. When everything is done on time and without major challenges, it eliminates corruption because there is no need to pay off border officials for a service that is free and can be completed in a few minutes,” said Mr Mapuranga.
The Plumtree Border Post is now open 24 hours a day for seamless entry and exit of travellers and goods during the festive season. Ordinarily, the border post closes at 10pm.
Minister Rwodzi yesterday visited Plumtree Border Post for a meet-and-greet with Zimbabweans arriving back home for the festive season as well as tourists visiting the country. She said she was satisfied with the level of professionalism and efficiency at the Plumtree Border Post and emphasised that the Government is maximising on the country’s status as the best destination to visit in 2025, as ranked by Forbes magazine.
“The border management system is amazing. We have seen how it makes the whole process and transition from one desk to another seamless and efficient. As a tourism economy, our thrust is to ensure that when a visitor comes into our country, it’s not the border management systems that frustrate them, because those delays put visitors off, dampen their mood, and influence whether they stay longer and spend more money in our country.
“The country is recording a surge in the number of international visitors coming into Zimbabwe for holidays. The inflows of people at Beitbridge Border Post, where we spent about two and a half days, and the number of travellers arriving at Robert Mugabe International Airport, Joshua Mqabuko International Airport, here at Plumtree Border Post, and other entry points around the country is testament that people acknowledge Zimbabwe is great again and open for business,” said the minister.
Minister Rwodzi said it was important and pleasing to note that the ministry and ZTA (Zimbabwe Tourism Authority) have observed a significant increase in the number of foreigners coming into the country.
“Zimbabwean diaspora citizens living and working in different countries are realising that home is good, that home is best, and that it’s good to come back home and help build our country.
“Whether one is building a home or a business, Zimbabwe is a country that will be built by its own people, as President Mnangagwa always says: Zimbabwe is open for business. We are seeing the inflows of diasporans returning home, and such meet-and-greet occasions are when we welcome them back and show them that the country loves them,” she said.
