South Africa calls for improving border relations with Zimbabwe

South Africa calls for improving border relations with Zimbabwe

Pretoria, Oct 5 (Prensa Latina) South Africa and Zimbabwe today pleaded to improve operations at the Beitbridge border post to, among other things, promote the flow of trade between the two countries.

After a meeting between Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa) and Emmerson Mnangagwa (Zimbabwe) at this border crossing, the South African president expressed his hope for the success of measures to improve these points, which should make the movement of people more fluid. and goods.

One of the objectives of the high-level meeting was to find solutions to the challenge posed by illegal cross-border activities, including the movement of undocumented aliens.

Speaking at the occasion of unveiling the new Border Management Authority (BMA), Ramaphosa stated that Pretoria had already adopted the necessary provisions to integrate several relevant functions of the Ministries of Home Affairs, Agriculture, Health, Fisheries and Forestry into this new body and Environment.

He revealed that the BMA has already signed implementation protocols with the South African Revenue Service, the Police Service and the South African Defense Force.

In this regard, Nakampe Masiapato, Commissioner of the South African Border Services Agency, explained that the deployment of border guards in the region (Musina, northern Limpopo Province) is an effective tool in combating illegal entries into the country.

Many people in Zimbabwe attempt to enter South Africa for economic reasons, irregular family reunification, medical treatment in South Africa’s free public clinics, or illegal trafficking.

Beitbridge is the main border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe. It was built on the Limpopo River, a natural and political divide between the two nations.

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