An inside source working at the Beitbridge border between South Africa and Zimbabwe has refuted news spread via social media by a Zimbabwean journalist that trucks are taking a week on either side of the border to get cleared.
The journalist said that the Zimbabwean Revenue Authority (Zimra) and SA customs officials were purposely slowing down legal transport to facilitate bribes from runners on both sides of the border.
However, the source at Beitbridge said the journalist’s article wasn’t true.
“SA Customs are pushing, and on the Zim side health officials are scanning containers on the bridge.”
One of the reasons for clearing delays is incomplete driver documentation.
Nevertheless, trucks are still cleared within five to 20 minutes.
Even so, truck traffic coming in from the south and from Botswana adds to bottlenecking experienced at Beitbridge.
As for corrupt officials fleecing drivers sitting in long queues – that’s nothing new.
“Traffic cops are on the take, I believe,” the source said.
In wouldn’t be the first time that law enforcement officials stand accused of pulling trucks from the queue to extort money from long-distance drivers.
