State of Zimbabwe borders appalling

Last week I travelled to South Africa and back by road. It wasn’t the most pleasant thing to do because soon as I got back, I was down with a sore throat and cold for three days. I am only just starting to get my voice back, thanks to six whole hours of being stuck out in the cold at Beitbridge border post.

I had always heard about the tedious delays at the border and the fact that Zim side always seems to be on go slow no matter when you cross, but that was not enough to prepare me for what I witnessed and went through. Apart from the irritated glares from the South African side officials, getting into South Africa wasn’t too difficult. It was the coming back into Zimbabwe that really stung. We arrived at the border at midnite and only left there around 6am. Even now when I really think of it, I cannot pin point what it is really that caused such ungodly delays. Ofcourse there were the usual long queues everywhere, people waiting for their goods to be cleared by the lackluster and bored Zimra officials. There were also a number of policemen who seemed particularly interested in harassing motorists, especially those who had trailers.

From this experience, two things really struck a chord within me. While we were still at the South Africa side of the border, a large haggardly group of refugees was force-marched through the building. The majority of them were scantily dressed in the biting cold, and a strong stench of stale sweat hung about them like a halo.