Hundreds of Zimbabweans have been blocked from crossing the country’s borders with South Africa and Botswana, with immigration officials questioning the validity of their COVID-19 test certificates and various documents.
Two footballers, Agrippa Murimba (Triangle United Football Club), and Raymond Uchena (Harare City Football Club), who are planning to join Morupule Wanderers, are among the people that have been stranded at Botswana’s Ramokgwebana border post for almost two days.
Denis Juru, president of the International Cross Border Traders Association of Zimbabwe, told VOA that on Tuesday alone, about 622 of the 6 338 Zimbabweans intending to cross the Beitbridge Border Post were turned away due to lack of proper documentation, including COVID-19 test certificates.
Juru said at least 230 people faced the same problem at Plumtree Border Post where 2 148 locals wanted to return home or visit Botswana.
At Forbes Border Post 531 people failed to produce proper documentation while 314 Zimbabweans were also stranded at Chirundu Border Post.
Nyamapanda and Victoria Falls border posts recorded 38 and 41 such cases, respectively.