All roads are leading home this festive and this had resulted in congestion and slow moving traffic queues at the beightbridge border post between which is between South Africa and Zimbabwe.
According an article published by news 24 in september last year, out of 1 million Zimbabweans that are officially outside the country, 4 out of 5 live in South Africa, although the number might be under counted and could be much bigger since some travel without legal documentation.
When it is the festive season, the Zimbabweans living in South Africa tend to go back home for the festive celebrations and which creates congestion at the border. This year is no different than the rest as traffic queues are seen stretching to several kilometers back.
In 2018 iol news reported advising travellers about the congestion at the beitbridge border post and the following years, there were travel restrictions due to the world wide pandemic Covid 19. Many people haven't been able to travel back home but since this year the restrictions have been lifted they are taking the opportunity to travel to their native country. The beitbridge border post is the busiest entry or exit land point according to iol news.
The social talks managed to get hold of some travellers who confirmed that the situation and the congestion at the border post.
"We are still kilometers from the border post but there is a traffic queue already. I think we are going to spend the whole day here," said a traveller who identified himself as as Mr Ngwenya.
He also spoke about how he has always heard about the situation from others but this year he has seen it himself and it was not a pretty site.
In an interview with the social talks, Gumede, a goods transporter who was leaving South Africa for Zimbabwe said, "I think we will be using the Botswana route because I can't stand the queue at the beitbridge border post. Last week we were there and already the queues were building up, I would rather use the longer route than spend a whole day at the same position. Plus we also have goods to deliver so waiting at the boarder will delay us ."
The covid 19 induced lockdown and the restrictions that came with it are some of the reasons why people haven't been able to travel freely since 2020. Although the beitbridge border post us usually congested during festive, this year is much worse than the previous years.
Share This Post On
0 comments
Leave a comment
You need to login to leave a comment. Log-in
