Source: Immigration clears surge in arrivals at Beitbridge ahead of Independence celebrations – herald
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
The Department of Immigration has recorded a sharp increase in traveller volumes at Beitbridge Border Post in the days leading up to Zimbabwe’s 46th Independence Day celebrations, with officials ramping up operations to ensure smooth clearance.
Assistant Regional Immigration officer-in-charge of Beitbridge station, Ms Canisia Magaya said they have been handling significantly higher traffic between Monday and Friday morning.
Entries have been peaking as Zimbabweans in the diaspora, SADC nationals, and tourists make their way into the country for the national celebrations set for Maphisa in Matabeleland South and various provincial centres nationwide.
She said between April 13 and April 15 they process an average of 4000 travellers arriving in the country daily which is slightly above the usual 3000 entries.
A total of 19080 arrivals were recorded in the past four days compared to 15873 departures.
“We have deployed enough manpower at all service points and between April 13 and April 15 we have been processing daily entries above 4000, indicating sustained high inflow,” said Ms Magaya.
“However, entries dropped below the previous threshold between April 16 and April 17.
“In the same period under review, exits were above 3000 moderately lower than the inflow and we noted an increase in departure on 16 April”.
The upgraded Beitbridge Border Post, refurbished under a US$300 million public-private partnership between Government and Zimborders Consortium, is proving its worth during the peak period.
Expanded capacity, partitioned cubicles, and the new clearance hall have cut queue times despite the surge.
The border typically handles nearly 300,000 commercial trucks and over 7 million travellers annually, but volumes spike around major holidays and national events.
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