News / Regional
Border jumpers drown in Limpopo River
08 Apr 2014 at 06:39hrs | Views
POLICE have retrieved two bodies of border jumpers who drowned while attempting to cross the crocodile-infested Limpopo River at the weekend.
The police officer commanding Beitbridge district Chief Superintendent Patrick Majuta said the two bodies were found at different points along the river during patrols.
He said a third body, which was partially buried in sand, was spotted late yesterday and would be retrieved today.
He said another team was searching for another man who was reported to have drowned on Friday afternoon while crossing the river near Mawale area.
He said all the three bodies were found on the eastern side of the border town.
"The bodies were discovered by our patrol teams along the boundary line. We have intensified patrols in light of an upsurge in cases of irregular migration and smuggling.
"The river is however not flooded but they are some sections where there is a lot of water," he said.
Chief Supt Majuta said the bodies had been taken to Beitbridge District Mortuary.
He said one of the bodies had both legs devoured by crocodiles.
"The body was spotted by some villagers trapped in sand and they alerted the police. When we arrived we managed to retrieve the remaining limbs," he said.
He urged people with missing relatives to contact the police.
Chief Supt Majuta said police were yet to identify the bodies.
He urged people to desist from crossing into either Zimbabwe or South Africa through undesignated entry points as they risked their lives.
Acting chairman of the Beitbridge district civil protection unit Peter Moyo said it was worrying that people continued to lose their lives in the Limpopo River rather than apply for proper travel documents which are readily available in the country.
"People should stop this thing of illegal migration. How can someone pay $150 for them to be transported to South Africa through an illegal entry point when they can get a passport for $53? We need to work hard in educating our children to shift from this mindset," said Moyo.
The Limpopo River is infested with crocodiles and hippopotami and is normally flooded throughout the rainy season.
Scores of refuges who enter the country under the guise of seeking asylum subsequently skip the border into South Africa through the Limpopo River.
Some South African farmers are also reported to be facilitating border jumping to get cheap labour.
At least 80 Zimbabweans are deported from that country through Beitbridge border post per day.
The police officer commanding Beitbridge district Chief Superintendent Patrick Majuta said the two bodies were found at different points along the river during patrols.
He said a third body, which was partially buried in sand, was spotted late yesterday and would be retrieved today.
He said another team was searching for another man who was reported to have drowned on Friday afternoon while crossing the river near Mawale area.
He said all the three bodies were found on the eastern side of the border town.
"The bodies were discovered by our patrol teams along the boundary line. We have intensified patrols in light of an upsurge in cases of irregular migration and smuggling.
"The river is however not flooded but they are some sections where there is a lot of water," he said.
Chief Supt Majuta said the bodies had been taken to Beitbridge District Mortuary.
He said one of the bodies had both legs devoured by crocodiles.
"The body was spotted by some villagers trapped in sand and they alerted the police. When we arrived we managed to retrieve the remaining limbs," he said.
He urged people with missing relatives to contact the police.
Chief Supt Majuta said police were yet to identify the bodies.
He urged people to desist from crossing into either Zimbabwe or South Africa through undesignated entry points as they risked their lives.
Acting chairman of the Beitbridge district civil protection unit Peter Moyo said it was worrying that people continued to lose their lives in the Limpopo River rather than apply for proper travel documents which are readily available in the country.
"People should stop this thing of illegal migration. How can someone pay $150 for them to be transported to South Africa through an illegal entry point when they can get a passport for $53? We need to work hard in educating our children to shift from this mindset," said Moyo.
The Limpopo River is infested with crocodiles and hippopotami and is normally flooded throughout the rainy season.
Scores of refuges who enter the country under the guise of seeking asylum subsequently skip the border into South Africa through the Limpopo River.
Some South African farmers are also reported to be facilitating border jumping to get cheap labour.
At least 80 Zimbabweans are deported from that country through Beitbridge border post per day.
Source - chronicle
