Zimbabwe closes northern borders to refugees

Zimbabwean officials on Tuesday said they will close their northern border to prevent refugees from Ethiopia and Somalia from entering the country.

Authorities believe refugees are using the country to make their way to neighbouring South Africa.

Regional immigration officer Evans Siziba said a growing number of refugees were coming into Zimbabwe on the pretext of seeking refugee status. He said they do not wait to have that status formalised

Instead, they quickly move through Zimbabwe and then into South Africa.

Siziba told state controlled media that from now on, Zimbabwe's border posts in the north will be closed to refugees.

These include Nyamapanda, Kariba, Victoria Falls and Chirundu.