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Returnees stranded at Beitbridge
2 hrs ago |
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Thousands of Zimbabweans who have returned from South Africa are facing mounting hardship at the Beitbridge Border Post, with many reporting lengthy delays in receiving their luggage and essential belongings as authorities manage a surge in arrivals.
The returnees include people who left South Africa amid reports of rising anti-immigrant sentiment, xenophobic incidents and increasingly difficult economic and immigration conditions.
Many of those interviewed said they have spent more than two weeks waiting for luggage that was expected to follow them after government-facilitated transport arrangements.
Janet Moyo said she has been stranded without her medication after her belongings failed to arrive.
"Some of us have spent more than two weeks at the border. We were told that our luggage was going to follow us with another transport," she said.
"We left our valuables behind, including our medication. I am diabetic and have spent more than a week here without any medication. I do not know what is going to happen if I fall sick."
Another returnee, Monica Shumba, said many people were surviving on donated clothing after their luggage failed to reach them.
"We are now using donated clothes from the ministry just to cover our bodies, but for how long?" she said.
The publication observed that some families were sleeping outdoors in cold winter conditions while waiting for their possessions.
Tendai Makiwa said efforts to retrieve luggage had become complicated after the agent accompanying the truck transporting their belongings was reportedly detained at the border.
"The challenge is that we engaged an agent to accompany the truck carrying our luggage," Makiwa said.
"Unfortunately, his repatriation certificate expired along the way and he was arrested at the border and fined. We had to raise the fine for him to be released."
He said the truck transporting the luggage was also detained while authorities sought to verify ownership of the goods.
"We cannot leave here without our luggage, but the challenge is that we have children having to sleep in the open in these cold conditions without enough clothes," he said.
Makiwa also expressed concern about inadequate sanitation facilities, warning that the lack of toilets and bathing facilities could pose a public health risk.
Health officials have reportedly raised concerns that prolonged delays could interrupt treatment for people living with conditions such as tuberculosis and HIV, particularly those requiring uninterrupted access to antiretroviral therapy and TB medication.
Another returnee, Nomore Gangaidzo, said he had lost all of his belongings and was seeking assistance to travel to his rural home in Chiredzi.
"The situation in South Africa is no longer bearable. Some people have lost their lives due to attacks, whether one has documents or not," he said.
"Life at the border is difficult. I have lost my particulars to thieves. Many of us are stuck here and we are looking for well-wishers to assist."
Juwish Sibindi appealed for food assistance and urged the government to create more employment opportunities.
"Economic hardships are forcing people out of the country. People choose to go and die in other countries rather than stay here facing hunger every day," Sibindi said.
Some returnees also alleged that transport operators had exploited their vulnerability.
Susan Gambidza claimed she and others paid US$2,500 each to travel by bus from Durban to Harare but were allegedly abandoned at the border.
"They told us that the buses are free, but we paid. They use pseudo bus company names and charge citizens, yet we know them," she said.
She said the matter had been reported to the police, although no action had yet been taken.
Responding to the concerns, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo said the government was working through various taskforces to address the challenges.
"We are working as different teams split into different taskforces and each has its responsibility," Moyo said.
He said the government was providing meals for returnees while profiling and counselling them, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade was responsible for transportation arrangements.
Meanwhile, South Africa's Border Management Authority said about 35,000 foreign nationals had departed the country through Beitbridge since June 7.
Acting Commissioner David Chilembe said authorities were processing deportations, voluntary repatriations and routine cross-border travel, with approximately 2,400 people passing through the border on one day alone, including around 700 Zimbabweans and 1,700 Malawian nationals.
According to South Africa's 2022 national census, Zimbabweans constitute the country's largest foreign-born population, with more than one million Zimbabwean nationals residing in South Africa—representing nearly half of the country's estimated 2.4 million international migrants.
The returnees include people who left South Africa amid reports of rising anti-immigrant sentiment, xenophobic incidents and increasingly difficult economic and immigration conditions.
Many of those interviewed said they have spent more than two weeks waiting for luggage that was expected to follow them after government-facilitated transport arrangements.
Janet Moyo said she has been stranded without her medication after her belongings failed to arrive.
"Some of us have spent more than two weeks at the border. We were told that our luggage was going to follow us with another transport," she said.
"We left our valuables behind, including our medication. I am diabetic and have spent more than a week here without any medication. I do not know what is going to happen if I fall sick."
Another returnee, Monica Shumba, said many people were surviving on donated clothing after their luggage failed to reach them.
"We are now using donated clothes from the ministry just to cover our bodies, but for how long?" she said.
The publication observed that some families were sleeping outdoors in cold winter conditions while waiting for their possessions.
Tendai Makiwa said efforts to retrieve luggage had become complicated after the agent accompanying the truck transporting their belongings was reportedly detained at the border.
"The challenge is that we engaged an agent to accompany the truck carrying our luggage," Makiwa said.
"Unfortunately, his repatriation certificate expired along the way and he was arrested at the border and fined. We had to raise the fine for him to be released."
He said the truck transporting the luggage was also detained while authorities sought to verify ownership of the goods.
"We cannot leave here without our luggage, but the challenge is that we have children having to sleep in the open in these cold conditions without enough clothes," he said.
Makiwa also expressed concern about inadequate sanitation facilities, warning that the lack of toilets and bathing facilities could pose a public health risk.
Another returnee, Nomore Gangaidzo, said he had lost all of his belongings and was seeking assistance to travel to his rural home in Chiredzi.
"The situation in South Africa is no longer bearable. Some people have lost their lives due to attacks, whether one has documents or not," he said.
"Life at the border is difficult. I have lost my particulars to thieves. Many of us are stuck here and we are looking for well-wishers to assist."
Juwish Sibindi appealed for food assistance and urged the government to create more employment opportunities.
"Economic hardships are forcing people out of the country. People choose to go and die in other countries rather than stay here facing hunger every day," Sibindi said.
Some returnees also alleged that transport operators had exploited their vulnerability.
Susan Gambidza claimed she and others paid US$2,500 each to travel by bus from Durban to Harare but were allegedly abandoned at the border.
"They told us that the buses are free, but we paid. They use pseudo bus company names and charge citizens, yet we know them," she said.
She said the matter had been reported to the police, although no action had yet been taken.
Responding to the concerns, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo said the government was working through various taskforces to address the challenges.
"We are working as different teams split into different taskforces and each has its responsibility," Moyo said.
He said the government was providing meals for returnees while profiling and counselling them, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade was responsible for transportation arrangements.
Meanwhile, South Africa's Border Management Authority said about 35,000 foreign nationals had departed the country through Beitbridge since June 7.
Acting Commissioner David Chilembe said authorities were processing deportations, voluntary repatriations and routine cross-border travel, with approximately 2,400 people passing through the border on one day alone, including around 700 Zimbabweans and 1,700 Malawian nationals.
According to South Africa's 2022 national census, Zimbabweans constitute the country's largest foreign-born population, with more than one million Zimbabwean nationals residing in South Africa—representing nearly half of the country's estimated 2.4 million international migrants.
Source - The Standard
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