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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Police have retrieved two bodies of border jumpers who drowned while attempting to cross Limpopo River and illegally enter South Africa at the weekend.
The bodies were found at different points along the crocodile infested river during patrols.
Officer commanding Beitbridge district Chief Superintendent Patrick Majuta said police were searching for another man who was reported to have drowned on Friday afternoon while crossing the river near Mawale area.

“The bodies were discovered by our patrol teams along the boundary line.We have intensified patrol in light of an upsurge in cases of irregular migration and smuggling. The river is not flooded but there are some sections where there is a lot of water,” he said.

Chief Supt Majuta said the bodies were taken to Beitbridge district mortuary.
He said one of the retrieved bodies had both legs devoured by crocodiles.

“The body was spotted by some villagers trapped in sand and they alerted the police. When we arrived we managed to retrieve the remaining limbs,” he said.
Police are yet to ascertain the identities of the bodies and are appealing to anyone with a missing relative to contact the nearest police station.

Chief Supt Majuta urged people to desist from crossing into either Zimbabwe or South Africa through undesignated entry points as they risked their lives.
Acting chairman of the district civil protection unit Mr Peter Moyo said it was worrying that people continued to lose their lives in the Limpopo River rather than applying for proper travel documents which are readily available in the country.

“People should stop this thing of illegal migration. How can someone pay $150 for them to be transported to South Africa through an illegal entry point when they can get a passport for $53? We need to work hard in educating our children to shift from this mindset,” said Mr Moyo.