MP calls for downsizing at Beitbridge Border

Whange East legislator Joseph Bonda has urged government to cut down the number of staff deployed at the Beitbridge border post, arguing that overstaffing fuels corruption and inefficiency.

Debating in Parliament, Bonda questioned the necessity of having representatives from six or seven ministries stationed at the busy border, saying the arrangement complicates accountability and encourages smuggling.

"I would like to ask the minister if there are any plans in place to reduce the number of staff at the border, as this is where the root cause of corruption is often found," Bonda said.

"There are like six or seven ministries that will be lined up stamping that document."

He argued that streamlining operations would make it easier to trace corrupt practices and tackle administrative loopholes that enable cross-border crime.

In response, Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Felix Mhona said government was already reviewing border control systems to eliminate unnecessary processes and costs.

"I am sure when we come to the minister of Home Affairs, we are also going to interrogate the process flow and the costs attributed to that particular ministry. This is the essence of the exercise, so that we reduce other processes that are not necessary," Mhona said.

The call comes as concerns over border security mount. Police last week intercepted a haulage truck along the Beitbridge–Masvingo highway, arresting its driver after discovering a large consignment of illegal cough syrups. On the same day, a woman was arrested on the same route for possession of a similar contraband.

The incidents underscored the porous nature of Zimbabwe's borders, where smuggling continues to thrive despite government pledges to tighten control.