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Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
THE Immigration Department has suspended all forms of leave and sourced relief staff from inland stations to increase border staff complement in anticipation of increased volumes of travel in and out of the country’s ports ahead of the festive season.
An estimated number of between 850 000 and one million people are expected to be using the borders during the month of December.
The department has also rolled out of an Online Border Management System (OBMS) which is further expected to increase efficiency and seamless flow of travellers by reducing their processing time.
Responding to questions from Sunday News, Chief Director of Immigration Ms Respect Gono advised on some of the measures put in place to enhance traveller clearance at the ports of entry and exit during the festive season.
“During the festive period, the department suspends all forms of leave to ensure the adequacy of staff to man the key areas of travel facilitation. There is also inter-agency co-operation for all border stakeholders to improve coordination of service delivery and facilitate smooth and effective passage of all travellers.
“The department is also in the process of rolling out an Online Border Management System (OBMS) to increase efficiency and seamless flow of travellers.
“The OBMS has an entry and exit module which synchronises traveller information as well as biometrics, allowing for the fast clearance of travellers due to easy accessibility of traveller information and limited human interface,” she said.
She said the e-gates which are also part of the OBMS are automated self-service barriers that use a combination of biometric data and e-passports for traveller clearance.
With the coming of e-gates, Ms Gono said the long queues will all be a thing of the past describing the facility as the game-changer as it used to take about three minutes to clear a passenger but this can now be done in just a minute.
“The modernisation and upgrading of the Beitbridge Border Post has served to decongest the clearing halls. The Border now has three different terminals, the commercial terminal, the bus terminal and the pedestrian terminal. Separation of traffic decongests and easies movement,” she said.
On the other hand, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) head of corporate communications Mr Francis Chimhanda said the authority has put in motion various measures to facilitate smooth passage for travellers at ports of entry and exit.
He said these measures include creating additional service points over and above the existing ones, liaising with other border stakeholders to create co-ordinated traffic management as well as additional resources such as stationery, computers, printers and other accessories to be deployed as required to capacitate the new points.
“All leave days will be suspended for all Zimra border staff during the peak period. Relief staff has been sourced from Zimra inland stations to increase the border staff complement and appointed members will be deployed to be on the ground well before the peak period for planning and dry runs
“Zimra ICT personnel will be on standby on the ground or at strategic inland offices to support and ensure continuous availability of automated functions,” said Mr Chimhanda.
He said arrangements have also been made with internal security and other law and order maintenance agents to ensure a crime-free zone.
In December 2023, border authorities cleared a total of 847 576 travellers, comprising 445 538 entries and 402 038 exits. – @nyeve14
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