SA deploys 40 more officers at Beitbridge

Beitbridge Bureau
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.
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Tripple B massacre Buffaloes

Thupeyo Muleya in Beitbridge
Tripple B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) 4
Buffaloes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 2
Tripple B made their intentions of staying in the Premier Soccer League clear when they hammered a stubborn Buffaloes 4-2 in match played at Dulibadzimu Stadium yesterday.
The Beitbridge team went into the match seeking nothing short of a win as they started on the offensive from the onset. Had it not been brilliant saves by Buffaloes’ goalie
Tandadzai Chengetai, Tripple B could have won the game with eight goals as the trio of Alick Marime, Simon Maengeni and Timire Mamvura unleashed a barrage of shots at goals for the better part of the day.

It was for the third time that the newly appointed head coach, Peter Manoti, managed to get a win at home.

Though Tshintsha Magiya was playing attacking football, their efforts were harmless in front of goal in the first 10 minutes when both teams were trying to settle down.
Webster Chingodza nearly scored for the home team on the sixth minute, but his shot went wide.

Mamvura also made his intentions clear when he combined well with Marime and Maengeni in the strike force. Former Dynamos striker Marime put Tshintsha Magiya in the lead after he scored from a Maxwell Mavhuto pass in the 17th minute.

Buffaloes’ skipper Farai Banda tried to make matters even, but his shot was well collected by Tripple B goalkeeper Prince Dube.

The visitors tried to capitalise on counter attacks though their defence was porous and always found wanting.

Mavhuto’s 17-metre drive was well collected by Chengetai after he sent a powerful shot off a Marime pass.

The visitors’ Farai Banda, Steven Sibanda and Jacob Muzokomba tried to penetrate the Tshintsha Magiya rear guard through the wings, but they were always hitting against a brick wall.

The in-form Marime capitalised on Watungwa Watungwa’s shamble defending and scored a brace just before half time.

A minute from the breather, Webster Chingodza registered his name on the score sheet when he scored off a Marime shot following a well-co-ordinated counter attack.

From that minute Buffaloes started attacking from the centre as the wings were well marshalled by Oscar Chove and Thomas Kombora.

Tripple B’s fans that had been sceptical of paying to watch their team trickled into the stadium following Chingodza’s score. They joined the other legions of fans who were already in a frenzy. The Marime magic struck again in the 62nd minute when he combined well with Maengeni, beating Watungwa Watungwa’s four defenders and sending Chengetai the wrong way.

The visitors were outdone as Jacob Muzokomba capitalised on Tshintsha Magiya’s poor defending and sent in a volley beating Dube.

The Watungwa Watungwa, coach Timothy Masachi, introduced a fresh pair of legs in the form of Tawanda Mareya for Sithole.

Mareya did not disappoint as he scored from a rebound in the 80th minute, forcing Tripple B to go into defensive mode. In a post-match interview, Masachi said: “We defended poorly and conceded a lot of goals. Actually defence has proven to be our worst challenge this season. We are scoring many goals but conceding more.

“We have been working very hard to improve on that area.”

Tripple B coach Peter Manoti said the win was part of their game plan to win all the home matches and collect maximum points. He said their target was to collect at least 30 points in the second half of season and hope to survive. Manoti said they have enough arsenal to stay out of relegation.

Teams

Tripple B: P Dube, T Kombora, T Mkondwa, O Chove, E Mwinga, T Mamvura, M Mavhuto, L Chiwaridzo, W Chingodza (R Pavari, 86 min), S Maengeni (A Makiwa, 78 min), A Marime.

Buffaloes: T Chengetai, K Mwaramba, A Dzumbunu, P Chandisaita, P Matizanadzo, P Alfasi, F Banda (R Mwenga, 46 min), P Thembani (M Mageja, 58 min), W Sithole (T Mareya 73 min), J Muzokomba, S Sibanda. 
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SA to increase border officials

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
The South African government will this week deploy more immigration officers at Beitbridge border post to facilitate a speedy flow of both human and vehicular traffic entering or leaving that country, an official has said. The deployment follows an outcry
from travellers over delays and congestion at that country’s border for the last four weeks where travellers were spending an average of four hours to enter or leave that country.
In some instances travellers had to abort their journeys because of the state of affairs south of the Limpopo River.
The Border Operations Co-ordinating Committee spokesperson Mr Calvin Mulaudzi said in a telephone interview yesterday that they had resolved to deploy more staff in light of an increase in traffic passing through the border post. He said an increase in movement of people between the two countries was a good sign of strong trade relations and hence the need to address barriers to free trade. He said they were operating with 20 officers per shift and were looking at increasing the numbers to between 26 and 30 people.
Mr Mulaudzi added that they had another team on the ground which was investigating the movement trend which they would use in making further adjustments on operations and deployments.
He said the team had been on the ground for the past two weeks and was set to conclude its mission by the end of this month.
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Ruling in Unki Mine case postponed

By Thupeyo Muleya

Beitbridge Bureau
JUDGMENT in a case in which Unki Mine is accused of smuggling a minibus fitted with new spare parts worth R236 375 into the country through Beitbridge border post has been postponed to July 5. Jimson Ruzvidzo (driver) and James
Madadangoma, a foreman representing the mine would have to wait a little longer to know their fate. The duo is jointly charged with smuggling and is denying the charges.
The case was postponed to a later date as the magistrate who is handling the matter Mr Innocent Bepura was away due to other pressing matters. Both accused were remanded out of custody on US$100 bail. Prosecutor Mr Tawonga Musina told the court that on May 10, Ruzvidzo was sent to South Africa by Madadangoma to collect a Mercedes Benz minibus belonging to Unki Mine.
The minibus, whose registration number is ACM7784 had been fitted with various items including seats, window panes, fire extinguishers, parcel shelves, radio and sound system among other accessories worth R236 375.
It is the State’s case that upon arrival at Beitbridge border post the two accused persons connived to smuggle the fitted accessories without declaring them to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority as per normal customs and excise procedures.
While at the border post Ruzvidzo went through all the immigrations procedures and decided to leave the border post without paying duty for the fitted items.
He was then intercepted by detectives from the Border Control Unit on suspicion that the vehicle had not paid any customs duty and levies.
Investigations then led to the discovery of documents that the bus had been fitted with an assortment of items which were liable to excise duty.
Ruzvidzo was subsequently arrested and the bus was in turn seized by Zimra. Further investigations led to Madadangoma’s arrest.
The documents indicated that the fittings had been made by Angelo Kater Motor Trimmers CC in South Africa.
 http://www.herald.co.zw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83105:ruling-in-unki-mine-case-postponed&catid=38:local-news&Itemid

Mbedzi for Miss Africa USA

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Zimbabwean top model Vanessa Mbedzi (22) has been selected to represent the country at the Miss Africa USA finals scheduled for Silver Spring, Maryland, on June 29.
The Miss Africa USA brings together young women to represent their countries, share cultures and celebrate the power of the African woman. Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes is also
expected to grace the occasion among other notable guests.
Mbedzi is the reigning Miss Zimbabwe USA 2012 and a business student at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States.
She is expected to take to the ramp along with  23 other contestants from across Africa based in the States who are vying for the same crown. The beauty queen, who hails from the border town of Beitbridge, outclassed seven other beauties in last year’s contest.
In an interview from her base last week, Mbedzi said: “I will raise the Zimbabwean flag high and proud to be representing this beautiful nation at such a forum.
“Every aspect for preparation is important on how I will present myself, speaking on stage and personalities which will make me stand out.
“There is pressure when you are representing your country in such a big pageant but I’ll do the best I can and bring the crown home.
“I am also preparing myself for the contest and my thrust is to raise awareness against sexual violence where victims are put at risk of contracting HIV, teenage pregnancy and an ambassador of the organisation Black Girls Ignite Africa that I intend to work with.
“I will also dedicate my time to supporting and helping sexual violence victims who suffer in silence not to be afraid to speak out.
“I want to be able to be there for them, listen to them and, help them move through their recovery and focus on a brighter future.
“I also want to empower young women because if a woman is sufficiently ambitious, determined and gifted there is practically nothing she can’t do.”
Black Girls Ignite Africa is an organisation that focuses on empowering encouraging and celebrating the development for young and old women all around Africa. She added that she was inspired to take up modelling by her parents, Mr Dambanyika Mbedzi (late) and Mrs Mavis Mbedzi, both business magnets. Vanessa is the first born in a family of four, comprising three girls and a boy.
The belle said naturally she had a positive attitude, high self-esteem and confidence to perform in front of big crowds.
“I believe that is a vital element tone needs to impress the judges,” said Vanessa.
She also called on other models throughout the country, especially those in Beitbridge, to go out and chase their dreams.
She added that Beitbridge was a very small town where there were very few modelling opportunities.
“I would want to encourage these young ladies not only when I get crowned but now that make use of that talent which is in you.
“The people who get on this world are people who get up and look for the circumstances they want and if they can’t find them, make them,” she said.http://www.herald.co.zw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83029:mbedzi-for-miss-africa-usa&catid=43:entertainment&Itemid=135#.