News / Regional
New Zimbabwe, Botswana border post starts operations
02 Jun 2016 at 06:32hrs | Views
Mlambapeli Border Post between Zimbabwe and Botswana in Gwanda South started operating yesterday, a move aimed at decongesting the Plumtree Border Post.
Mlambapeli Border Post is the fourth entry point between Botswana and Zimbabwe, the others being Plumtree, Maitengwe and Mphoengs border posts, which are already operational.
Home Affairs Deputy Minister Obedingwa Mguni said a nine-member team: three immigration officers, four police officers, a veterinary officer and a Zinara officer had been deployed to the border post.
He said the officers were operating from temporary structures while efforts were underway to construct permanent structures.
"Mlambapeli border opened to the public today (yesterday) and the border is due to be officially opened on June 11. It will be operating from 6am to 6pm.
"A nine member team comprising of three immigration officers, four police officers, a veterinary officer and Zinara officer are now stationed at the border.
"Zimra officials are in the process of assessing the type of traffic that passes through the border as it is not a commercial border yet," Mguni said.
He said the team that had been deployed at the new border was in the meantime operating from former Zinara containers.
Mguni said they were using a generator as a source of power, but their Botswana counterparts had electricity, which local officers could also benefit from.
"We have people from as far as Gwanda who were supposed to travel over 200 kilometres to reach the Plumtree Border Post in order to access Botswana.
"This new development will therefore go a long way in ensuring easy movement not only for people in Gwanda, but surrounding areas.
"The region of Matabeleland is connected to Botswana in so many ways as we have locals from the region who are working there," said Mguni.
The border post, which was mooted about 10 years ago, is aimed at decongesting the Plumtree Border Post.
Botswana finished erecting border structures in 2008 and has been waiting for Zimbabwe to follow suit.
The opening of the border had been initially set for May 1, but was rescheduled to yesterday following an agreement between authorities from both countries because construction works were yet to be concluded.
Mguni said they had managed to construct a road and a borehole on the Zimbabwean side.
Recently, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Dr Joram Gumbo, indicated that a new road would be constructed for easy access to the border.
He also announced that Zinara would provide structures for the border post which were removed from tollgates when permanent structures were constructed.
Mlambapeli Border Post is the fourth entry point between Botswana and Zimbabwe, the others being Plumtree, Maitengwe and Mphoengs border posts, which are already operational.
Home Affairs Deputy Minister Obedingwa Mguni said a nine-member team: three immigration officers, four police officers, a veterinary officer and a Zinara officer had been deployed to the border post.
He said the officers were operating from temporary structures while efforts were underway to construct permanent structures.
"Mlambapeli border opened to the public today (yesterday) and the border is due to be officially opened on June 11. It will be operating from 6am to 6pm.
"A nine member team comprising of three immigration officers, four police officers, a veterinary officer and Zinara officer are now stationed at the border.
"Zimra officials are in the process of assessing the type of traffic that passes through the border as it is not a commercial border yet," Mguni said.
He said the team that had been deployed at the new border was in the meantime operating from former Zinara containers.
Mguni said they were using a generator as a source of power, but their Botswana counterparts had electricity, which local officers could also benefit from.
"We have people from as far as Gwanda who were supposed to travel over 200 kilometres to reach the Plumtree Border Post in order to access Botswana.
"This new development will therefore go a long way in ensuring easy movement not only for people in Gwanda, but surrounding areas.
"The region of Matabeleland is connected to Botswana in so many ways as we have locals from the region who are working there," said Mguni.
The border post, which was mooted about 10 years ago, is aimed at decongesting the Plumtree Border Post.
Botswana finished erecting border structures in 2008 and has been waiting for Zimbabwe to follow suit.
The opening of the border had been initially set for May 1, but was rescheduled to yesterday following an agreement between authorities from both countries because construction works were yet to be concluded.
Mguni said they had managed to construct a road and a borehole on the Zimbabwean side.
Recently, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Dr Joram Gumbo, indicated that a new road would be constructed for easy access to the border.
He also announced that Zinara would provide structures for the border post which were removed from tollgates when permanent structures were constructed.
Source - chronicle
