Zim Security forces cashing in on border jumpers

Zimbabwe Republic Police Support Unit and Soldiers manning the Limpopo  Bridge are allegedly cashing in on undocumented Zimbabweans entering and leaving the country through Beitbridge Border Post, state media reported.

Investigations by state media revealed that security forces manning the bridge allegedly demand bribes ranging from R50 and R200 from border jumpers.

This reporter yesterday observed two soldiers soliciting for bribes from a border jumper who was coming from South Africa.

They capitalise on border jumpers who opt to use the bridge rather than undesignated entry points along the Limpopo River.

One of the border jumpers, only identified as John, told this paper that  they were forced to pay between R50 and R200 by soldiers and police  officers.

"We are made to pay between R50 and R200 to pass through and since we  have no passports, we are forced to bribe them. I came in with my friend and we were made to pay R100 each while others who did not have enough money had to pay R50 after a lot of pleading," he said.

Another border jumper who declined to be named, said: "During the festive period, they charge more money as they will be cashing in on an increased number of undocumented people coming back home for

Christmas and New Year. What is worrying is that the police and security guards manning the exit gate also demand money, failure of which they hand us over to immigration authorities," she said.
Border jumpers are fined $10, which is payable at the immigration counters.

The security personnel manning the bridge also target those who would not have completed immigration formalities on the Zimbabwean side.

"I paid one of the soldiers R50 for not stamping my passport at the Zimbabwean side after he had checked my passport and discovered that it had no date exit stamp," said Mercy Moyo of Beitbridge, who is a regular cross-border trader.

On Christmas Day, Chronicle observed a queue of people whose passports were being checked by police and soldiers on the bridge.

The assistant regional immigration manager in charge of Beitbridge Border Post, Mr Charles Gwede, said soldiers and police were not supposed check travel documents.

"We have a problem with police officers and soldiers who duplicate our duties by checking a traveller's passport yet it is the responsibility of an immigration officer. They are not supposed to do so and we have raised it several times in our regular stakeholders' meetings but it looks like they continue to defy the standing rules and regulations and that promotes corruption," he said.

Mr Gwede added: "The only reason             why we have police at the border is to prevent and detect crime as well as protecting travellers and border officials."

Further investigations revealed that the soldiers and police work hand in hand with organised syndicates of those involved in assisting border jumpers to illegally cross the border to South Africa.

A local woman who is involved in assisting border jumpers and spoke on condition of anonymity said:
"We work with soldiers and police manning the bridge and they now know us. In fact, when we bring a group of border jumpers, we give them their share of money so that they allow us to pass through and we also

do the same on the South African side.
"The people that approach us are those who do not want to risk their lives by using undesignated entry points in bushy areas along Limpopo River as they fear being attacked by either crocodiles or armed robbers."