Dirty ticket to Moza

SMUGGLING of basic commodities and bales of second-hand clothes is continuing unabated along the Zimbabwe-Mozambique border despite the fact that the two countries are on lockdown, The Manica Post has established.

While Forbes Border Post is almost deserted, it is business as usual for the flyby-night couriers, widely known as majorijo, who are alleged to be buying their way through some well-known security check points along the border.

Since the start of the Covid-19 lockdown when official entry and exit points were closed — excerpt for returning residents and cargo — rampant smuggling activities have been going on, thereby posing a serious threat to the spread of the highly contagious disease.

In most cases, traders from Mutare cross the border to source basic commodities such as rice, cooking oil and spaghetti for sale back home.

Those in second-hand clothes business are also not being outdone.

The emergence of makeshift second-hand clothes selling stalls on various street corners in Mutare’s low and high-density suburbs are evidence of the rampant smuggling activities along the border.

Investigations conducted by The Manica Post this week revealed that some Mozambican nationals who live along the border in areas like Machipanda are earning a living from charging between US$10 and US$15 to help people cross into their country illegally.

Once a bribe of around US$3 is paid on the Zimbabwean side, depending on the luggage one has, the majorijos are then allowed to cross into Mozambique.

They then use some covert routes on the Mozambican side to evade security officers in the neighbouring country.

Zimbabweans trooping back from the neighbouring country laden with various basic commodities are a common sight along the dusty Rekayi Tangwena Road in Bordervale low-density suburb and the bushy area near Marymount Teachers’ College.

Some private taxis, most of whom are not operating in Mutare’s Central Business District owing to Covid-19 lockdown regulations, have turned to Rekayi Tangwena Road for business as they ferry the homeward bound Zimbabweans.

The Manica Post pretended to be prospective clients to an 18-year-old courier, who only identified himself as Jose, and he chronicled how he conducts business.

Jose said he wakes up around 4am every day and crosses the border into Zimbabwe to set base at Corner Rekayi Tangwena Road and Flamingo Road in Bordervale to wait for clients.

“This is something that we do everyday. My day starts around 4am when I leave home in Goriondo area in Machipanda and walk to this place (Corner Rekayi Tangwena Street and Flamingo Road). This is where we get our clients.

“If you are really serious about crossing into Mozambique, we can reduce the fee from US$15 to US$12. We only have to pay the security officials here (Zimbabwe) so that we can cross into Mozambique. When we are on the Mozambican side, we then use some routes that security officers are not aware of.

“It is easy and the distance is really short, about five kilometres or less. You can do your shopping all day then come back. Or if you want to get on a motorbike, we can facilitate the ride to Machipanda Centre,” said Jose as he tried to convince us to do business with him.

Bales of second-hand clothes as well as different brands of alcoholic beverages are also being smuggled into the country using the same routes and modus operandi.

Although the importation of second-clothes is thriving in Zimbabwe, Government banned the practice in 2015 in order to protect the country’s textile industry.

Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Taviringwa Kakohwa said the police force is working tirelessly to plug holes along the porous border.

“We have security officials along the border. Unfortunately I cannot readily give you details relating to the arrests that we have made so far. However, we have put in place measures to curtail illegal crossing of the border,” said Inspector Kakohwa.

Last week, the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Dr Ellen Gwaradzima, said Government is considering re-opening de-registered border crossing points along the Zimbabwe-Mozambique border as a way of plugging the holes that are being exploited by illegal cross-border traders from both countries.

Dr Gwaradzimba said the move is aimed at enhancing revenue collection for Government as well as boosting the tourism industry in both countries.

“If all those border posts are officially opened, trade with Mozambique will increase, thereby translating into more revenue for us. A lot of revenue is lost through illegal border crossing.

“When there is no control of movement, that also poses a serious threat on our security.

“In light of Covid-19, everyone who comes in needs to be screened and quarantined so as to break the chain of infection. When people are crossing illegally this is what they are evading.

“All this can be solved through opening more ports of entry along our 700km border with Mozambique,” she said.