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Beitbridge Bureau
The Department of Immigration and police have intercepted 38 Ethiopian illegal immigrants who were en-route to South Africa through an illegal crossing point along the Limpopo River.The group was intercepted at around 10am at the Lutumba tollgate aboard a Senator Express bus following a tip off.

The Herald is reliably informed that the Ethiopians entered the country from Mozambique through an illegal crossing point with the assistance of a prominent Mutare businessman.

The suspects who are aged between 20 and 30 years were picked up by their “host” at Valley Lodge along Beira Road in Mutare who was also expected to facilitate a smooth transition to South Africa for the group.

The police officer commanding Beitbridge district Chief Superintendent Lawrence Chinhengo said they had since charged the group with entry by evasion. He said investigations were still in progress.

“We have had a number of such cases where these illegal immigrants come into the country come through Mutare. We are not leaving any stone unturned we want to get to the bottom of this syndicate,” he said.

Chief Supt Chinhengo said initial investigations revealed that the group was enroute to South Africa. He said they had also picked up the bus crew. They are Richmore Mundihwo (40), Misheck Demhe (33) and Roselyne Munhenga (29).

“We received a tip off that they were 38 Ethiopians who were being transported aboard a Senator Express bus from Mutare and we then teamed up with the Department of Immigration.

“We then apprehended them at Lutumba toll gate and investigations are still in progress,” he said.
He added that the bus crew was now assisting police with investigations.

“We will not tolerate such lawlessness where people go to an extent of hiring buses to facilitate illegal migration,” said Chief Supt Chinhengo.

The governments of South Africa and Zimbabwe last year took a stand to deal decisively with illegal immigrants, especially those skipping the two countries’ borders under the guise of being refugees.

According to international refugee laws, the immigrants should seek refugee status from the first country of safety which would then facilitate their movement to their final destination.

It is understood that the traffickers of the migrants have changed drop off points in Beitbridge following the warnings by Zimbabwean authorities.

The illegal migrants are now being brought into the country in trucks and buses then they are dropped off at Lutumba, where they are then taken to illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River which are on the eastern part of the town for further transportation to either Durban or Cape Town in South Africa.