Beitbridge congestion eases

News
TRAFFIC flow between Musina and the Beitbridge border post subsided yesterday.

TRAFFIC flow between Musina and the Beitbridge border post subsided yesterday.

There was heavy traffic overnight on Friday as thousands of holiday-makers and migrant workers made their journey to Zimbabwe.

Some motorists and passengers at the border post had to join the queue on foot to process their documents.

Traffic authorities say some motorists disobey the road rules by overtaking in unsafe places.

Vhembe district ambulance services’ spokesperson Simon Mogale says they attended to several accidents.

“The challenge with drivers is that they are overtaking where they should not be on barrier lines,” he said.

“The behaviour should change. Road users must be careful when they are driving because of the number of vehicles that are moving on the roads.”

The Zimbabwean immigration authorities in Beitbridge last week said starting from December 13, they had been receiving a huge influx of travellers.

Beitbridge assistant immigration manager Charles Gwede was quoted saying: “The highest number of arrivals on a single day was recorded on Monday when we cleared 20 367 travellers on the arrivals side while on the exit section we had 15 759 people who left the country through Beitbridge border.

“We anticipate a further increase over the weekend as more travellers will pass through the border for Christmas.”

During the festive season last year, Beitbridge was hit by serious congestion, which saw some travellers spending a number of days waiting to be cleared at the border.

Beitbridge is the busiest inland port in Southern Africa and the border is open 24 hours a day.

— SABC/Staff Reporter