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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
The volume of traffic has drastically increased at Beitbridge Border Post as travellers now spend on average four hours in queues to enter or leave South Africa.
It is understood that immigration departments on both sides of the border are battling to clear the high volume of traffic which has increased from an average of 10 000 to 20 000 per day.

The volume of traffic at Beitbridge Border Post started increasing towards the end of June after South Africa’s Home Affairs Department banned the payment of admission of guilt fines by migrants who had overstayed.

According to the new regulations, those who overstay by less than 30 days (first offence in 24 months period) shall be declared undesirable for a period of 12 months and those who repeat a similar offence in 24 months shall be declared undesirable for a period of 24 months.
Those who overstay by 30 days or more will be declared undesirable for a period of five years.

Prior to the new arrangement, travellers charged with overstaying in that country were fined R1 000 which was payable at the port of entry or at the South African embassies in their respective countries. Long queues have become common especially on the South African side, while travellers are being cleared speedily on the Zimbabwean side.

Immigration officers from both countries said recently they had witnessed an increase in the volume of traffic following the announcement of the new immigration regulations.

A South African immigration officer said before the new law, they would attend to around 5 000 travellers going either side of the border, but that has increased to 10 000.

The officer added that they were recording the highest volume of travellers on the departure side.
South Africa’s Border Control Operational Coordinating Committee spokesman Mr Calvin Mulaudzi said in a telephone interview that they were witnessing long queues. He said they conducted an assessment of the situation at the border recently and that they would employ the clearance system they used during the festive season to ensure a smooth passage for travellers.

“We are going to separate traffic into light vehicles, pedestrians, and buses, commercial and open up more clearing points so that we avoid congestion,” said Mr Mulaudzi.

“Actually, we are happy that trade relations between South Africa and Zimbabwe are strong and hence we will continue reviewing progress in line with the changes in the volume of traffic.”

Mr Mulaudzi said early indications were that the volume of traffic was high in the morning and evenings.