mbulelo smpofu
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
ZIMBABWEAN authorities have reactivated the Border Efficiency Management Systems (BEMS) as a build up to an anticipated increase in the volume of traffic at the newly transformed Beitbridge Border Post during the festive season.
The Christmas and New Year period ranks among the peak periods exerting additional strain on resources while posing security risks for travellers and communities living within the borders of Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Statistics on traveller movement are regarded as an important indicator of how busy the port of entry is and how efficient authorities can cope with a surge in traffic.
About 15 000 travellers, 120 buses, 2 000 light vehicles and 1 000 commercial trucks pass through the border daily during off peak periods and the number increases threefold at peak.
School Holidays, Easter period, and the Christmas and New Year periods are synonymous with increased traffic volumes at Beitbridge Border Post.
Efficiencies have improved at Beitbridge following the automation and transformation of the port of entry by the Government in partnership with the ZimBorders Consortium from one to three terminals at a cost of US$300 million.
Authorities are now handling dedicated traffic including commercial, buses and light vehicles and pedestrians, which all have different needs.
As a result, border law enforcement departments and agencies have been successfully completing the festive period operations, with very few incidents reported.
In an interview, the Assistant Regional Immigration officer in charge of Beitbridge (Zimbabwe) Mrs Canisia Magaya said they had received additional staff members following an upward review of the staff complement due to the expansion of the border.
“We are ready to handle any increase in traffic coming through the border during the festive season and we have suspended all off and leave days so that we operate with a full strength staff complement,” said Mrs Magaya.
“In addition, we now have an online border management system, which aids in reduction of clearance times. We are going to be setting up help desks to assist travellers with immigration related information and challenges.”
She said the Department of Immigration counters will be adequately manned and advised travellers to present themselves at immigration counters to avoid being fraudulently cleared using fake stamps.
The senior immigration officer added that travellers do not require the service of an agent or middleman during clearance processes.
Beitbridge port health officer, Mrs Silibaziso Nkala, said thermo scanners were installed at the port of entry three months ago and that these will go a long way in speeding up the travellers screening procedures.
“I can say we are ready together with all other stakeholders. Like every festive season, it has become a norm that we consolidate our plans so that we are all aware who will be doing what to avoid confusion during this busy period,” said Mrs Nkala.
“As port health we are suspending all us offs and leave save for maternity and sick and we will be screening all travellers coming through this border, assisting those who are ill to get first preference in all services here at the port and those that need immediate medical assistance will be ferried to our local hospital in an ambulance.
“Our food inspection is already intensified to make sure we allow only those food stuffs that meet our minimum requirements according to Zimbabwe food regulations.”
The border post was upgraded through a private public partnership (PPP) between the Government and the ZimBorders Consortium under a set up where the consortium is managing and maintaining the border infrastructure for the next 17 years, before handing it to the former.
ZimBorders Consortium general manager, Mr Nqobile Ncube, said a final plan that was crafted by border stakeholders including Government agencies had been activated.
This includes the deployment of additional staff, opening up of more services points, increased travel information dissemination, tightening security to flash out touts and irregular migrants at the port of entry and harmonising controls and operations amongst other strategies.
“The Easter and festive seasons are the major peak periods we experience at this border and hence we have started making plans together with other border stakeholders including Government agencies to ensure a seamless and incident free festive period,” said Mr Ncube.
“We will increase customer services visibility at all the bus and light vehicles terminal so that travellers access the necessary information about the flow processes to cut delays.
“It is also important for those wishing to travel through Beitbridge border post to ensure that they have their necessary paperwork in order as may be required.
“As ZimBorders we have created an information centre on our website www.zimborders.com where members of the public may access the general travel information about Beitbridge.”
Where possible, he said travellers are advised to use the pre-clearance facilities or make use of the electronic tip system for those who wish to travel into Zimbabwe with foreign registered vehicles so as to expedite their time at the border.
The pre-clearance systems involve declaring imports and paying duty and the necessary levies prior to one’s arrival at the desired port of entry, thus cutting physical border processes upon arrival.
