Even commercial cargo is piling up on either side raising
fears that most Zimbabweans, who rely on groceries from the neighbouring
country, may spend the festive season without food.
There are long queues on either side of the border, despite
official statistics showing that Christmas period traffic has declined by almost
70 percent this year compared to previous years.
The decline is attributed to Covid-19 travel restrictions. South
Africa is home to many Zimbabwean migrant workers and a majority of them were
not able to travel through the borders at the peak of the Covid-19 induced
lockdowns in both countries.
Until December 1 only commercial cargo, bodies for burial
and returnees, and diplomats on Government business were allowed to travel into
either country.
Zimbabwe opened its land borders, including Beitbridge at
the beginning of this month. Private motorists and pedestrians are now
travelling under strict Covid-19 management protocols, which also come with
curfews running between 10PM and 6AM in both countries.
However, the implementation of the curfew on the South
African side of the border which runs between 10PM and 4AM coupled with strict
Covid-19 screening is slowing the movement of traffic into either country.
After 10PM only commercial cargo is allowed to travel
through Beitbridge Border Post, resulting in vehicles piling up on either side
of the border. Travellers continue to spend at least 48 hours to pass through
the border.
Although there appear to be many people at the border due
to congestion, official statistics show that less than one-third of the usual
volume of traffic during peak periods is using the border.
“Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the border used to handle at
least 30 000 travellers per day and currently, the average figure is 6 500.
“The issue of implementing curfew regulations and slow
Covid-19 screening has caused a lot of chaos,” said a border official.
An average of 50 Zimbabweans are arriving from South Africa
by road daily under the self-repatriation facility.
According to an informal cross-border transporter, Mr Trust
Ndlovu, the slow movement of traffic at the border is likely to see some
families having a dull festive season.
“Something has to be done about the situation here. Imagine
I haven’t moved for one kilometre since arriving at the border at 5 AM,” said
Mr Ndlovu yesterday afternoon.
“When the Government re-opened the land borders, most of us
were happy that we will be able to transport groceries and all the basic
commodities we had failed to do at the peak of the lockdown.
“If we look at the rate at which things are moving here, we
won’t manage to make deliveries to all our clients. This will be disastrous.”
Mr Albert Pinjisi who was travelling from South Africa said
he had spent more than six hours at the border due to long queues. Another
motorist, Mr Brian Tshabangu said; “We have a crisis here, we don’t know if we
will be able to cross over to South Africa today. We have cleared everything on
the Zimbabwe side and have been waiting in this queue for a very long time.”
Our news crew observed security officers strictly screening
travellers for valid documents including passports and Covid-19 clearance
certificates.
A total of 1 015 people have since December 10 been
arrested at the border for violating immigration laws. Chronicle
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