Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
MORE than one million travellers were cleared at the various ports of entry countrywide in a development that has been attributed to regional and national developments such as the relaxation of the visa regime and increased accessibility of the visa platform through the e-visa system.
The factors have ushered a new era of easy and convenient travel.
Responding to questions from Sunday News, Chief Immigration Officer Ms Respect Gono revealed that there has been an increase in travel volumes as a result of various pull factors.
“There has been a significant increase in the travel volumes to over one million in December 2024 in comparison to December 2023 where the department cleared about 840 000 travellers. The steady rise in figures is a testament that the Second Republic has ushered in a new era of easy and convenient travel.
“The economic blueprint NDS1 clearly states that the Government will pursue the engagement and re-engagement agenda which has culminated in the relaxation of visa regime and increased accessibility of the visa platform through the e-visa system,” said Ms Gono.
She said the prevailing peace and tranquillity as well as the economic progress have all been a significant pull factor.
“Zimbabwe is a friend to all and an enemy to none as pronounced by President Mnangagwa. Travel patterns have drastically changed as marked by the rise in entry statistics. Zimbabweans from the diaspora are mostly visiting relatives or relocating back home whilst foreign nationals are entering for various reasons such as investment and tourism,” said Ms Gono.
According to Ms Gono, Beitbridge Border Post accounted for half of the total traffic at the county’s ports with over 500 000 travellers.
Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare had the second largest volume of travel, accounting for over 120 000 travellers while Victoria Falls International Airport had the third largest volume, with a traffic of over 93 000 travellers.
At Beitbridge Border Post, 322 930 travellers entered the country with 185 814 exiting, bringing the total to 508 744 while at Plumtree Border Post 49 534 entered the country with 42 619 exiting, bringing the total to 92 153.
Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airports in Bulawayo recorded 15 879 travellers.
Ms Gono said generally, all ports were very busy as there was an upward trend in the travel statistics countrywide.
The Immigration Department had suspended all forms of leave and sourced relief staff from inland stations to increase border staff complement in anticipation of the increased volumes of travel in and out of the country’s ports during the festive season.
The department also rolled out an Online Border Management System (OBMS) which further increased efficiency and seamless flow of travellers by reducing their processing time.
The OBMS has an entry and exit module that synchronises traveller information as well as biometrics, allowing for the quick clearance of travellers due to easy accessibility of traveller information and limited human interface.
The modernisation and upgrading of the Beitbridge Border Post also served to decongest the clearing halls. The Border now has three different terminals, the commercial terminal, the bus terminal and the pedestrian terminal that has resulted in traffic decongestion and ease of movement. @nyeve14
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