The movement of both human and vehicular traffic has drastically improved on the South African border with Zimbabwe following the deployment of 40 more immigration officers by that country’s Home Affairs department. The staff complement was beefed
up last Friday following an outcry by travellers over the slow clearance of people leaving and entering that country for the past month.
In an interview yesterday the spokesman for South Africa’s border operations and co-ordinating committee, Mr Calvin Mulaudzi said they had also opened up more clearing points to ensure the smooth flow of traffic. He said they had also started adjusting their evening and morning shifts when the volume of traffic was relatively high. A total of 9 000 people access Beitbridge border post per day but the number has drastically increased following the recent weakening of the South African rand against the US dollar. The number also increases to between 25 000 and 30 000 during peak periods.
“We deployed 40 more officers at Beitbridge border post last week so that we ensure efficiency and a speedy flow of traffic entering or leaving the country. Zimbabwe is one of our largest trade partners and hence the need to address issue affecting free trade.
“Those who were deployed have just undergone a thorough training by the Home Affairs department with regards to facilitating a smooth flow of traffic and trade,” he said.
Mr Mulaudzi said they would deploy more officers later next month when they receive a report from the team which is investigating the movement trend at the border. He added that travellers had been grouped into various categories including those with permits, day trippers and those travelling by bus and those who would be visiting that country for more than two weeks.
http://www.herald.co.zw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84739:sa-deploys-40-more-officers-at-beitbridge&catid=38:local-news&It
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