The Department of Immigration has urged the government to formalize 2 land borders, Shashe And Tshituripasi Borders between Zimbabwe and South Africa to relieve pressure at Beitbridge border post which is now overwhelmed with traffic, The Herald reports.
According to the publication, Shashe which is 120 Kms away from Beitbridge has one house for immigration officers while road construction and land clearance for housing were done at Tshituripasi which is 125 km from Beitbridge.
The suggestion was made by Assistant Regional Immigration Officer-in-Charge of Beitbridge, Mr Nqobile Ncube who told a group of parliamentarians on a tour that:
We are concerned with cases of illegal crossing on the flanks of the legal border (Beitbridge),” said Mr Ncube. “Such a scenario is not good in terms of security and the country being able to collect revenue through imports/exports which are leaking via the many non-formal entry/exit points.
…in some instances, those living along the border areas did not see the need to travel for more than 100km or 200km to gain legal access to a place, which is just across the river.
Such a reality could not be overlooked, hence the need to formalise the already existing points, which can open on specified times to cater for all those travelling on family or tourism-related business in those areas.
Mr. Ncube also said the Shashe And Tshituripasi Borders can also be used to boost tourism in Zimbabwe:
The Tshituripasi border will take locals, traffic to other western parts of Zimbabwe and to the Greater Limpopo Trans-frontier Conservation Area, which involves Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
We have had to use these borders during major annual tourism events, albeit on a temporary basis and that has been done successfully. We have seen it, we can manage. This will be a relief to Beitbridge, which clears half a million people every month.
Last week Mr Ncube also advised the government to reopen the Beitbridge Border post to human traffic after the festive season as he said they are having a hard time clearing the current traffic and commercial cargo for now.
More: The Herald