News / National
Zimbabwe immigration raises concern over smuggling of children into South Africa
19 Dec 2016 at 23:14hrs | Views
Police and the Immigration Department at Beitbridge border post have raised concern over the continued illegal movement of children into South Africa, with close to 100 minors having been intercepted at the port of entry since the start of the festive season.
It has become common that some Zimbabwean parents who live illegally in South Africa and cannot travel back home are engaging cross border transporters popularly known as Omalayitsha to smuggle children without documents into the neighbouring country.
This is mostly during the festive holidays as schools have closed.
"We have arrested a number of cross border transport operators after being implicated in the illegal movement of children," ZRP Officer Commanding Beitbridge District, Chief Superintendent Francis Phiri said.
"Zimbabweans intending to travel to the neighbouring country are required to provide proper travel documents," said Mr Innocent Hamandishe, the Beitbridge border post Assistant Regional Immigration Officer.
The government runs two reception centres in Beitbridge and Plumtree where unaccompanied children are received from Botswana and south Africa before they are reunited with their families.
In December 2015, 435 children were deported by South Africa and Botswana after they illegally crossed the border.
It has become common that some Zimbabwean parents who live illegally in South Africa and cannot travel back home are engaging cross border transporters popularly known as Omalayitsha to smuggle children without documents into the neighbouring country.
This is mostly during the festive holidays as schools have closed.
"We have arrested a number of cross border transport operators after being implicated in the illegal movement of children," ZRP Officer Commanding Beitbridge District, Chief Superintendent Francis Phiri said.
"Zimbabweans intending to travel to the neighbouring country are required to provide proper travel documents," said Mr Innocent Hamandishe, the Beitbridge border post Assistant Regional Immigration Officer.
The government runs two reception centres in Beitbridge and Plumtree where unaccompanied children are received from Botswana and south Africa before they are reunited with their families.
In December 2015, 435 children were deported by South Africa and Botswana after they illegally crossed the border.
Source - ZBC
