Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. Immigration authorities at Beitbridge Border Post processed more than 437,000 travellers and arrested 3,640 people for immigration offences during the festive season in December.
Figures from the Department of Immigration show that 437,372 travellers passed through the border last month, with 263,575 arrivals and 173,797 departures recorded during the peak holiday period.
Over the same period, 3,640 people were arrested for offences including border jumping, touting, using fake immigration stamps and travelling with forged documents.
A further 27 travellers from countries such as Nigeria, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Ghana, Egypt, Mozambique, Malawi, Burundi and Congo-Brazzaville were denied entry for failing to meet visa requirements.
The arrests were part of an ongoing operation by the Department of Immigration’s Regional Compliance and Enforcement Unit, working with other border agencies to maintain security and order during peak travel times.
Assistant Regional Immigration Officer-in-Charge for Beitbridge, Canisia Magaya, said:
“We have started witnessing a surge in southbound traffic, although movement remains relatively sparse.
“In December alone, we intercepted 3 640 travellers on either side of the border for violating immigration laws and refused entry to 27 others for various reasons, including lack of valid visas.”
Magaya also advised travellers to plan and, where possible, travel during off-peak times such as early mornings or late evenings to avoid congestion.
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