The Beit Bridge border post recorded a sharp increase in the number of travellers who passed through during the festive season.

According to statistics made avbailable, more than 500 000 people passed through the port of entry between 14 December last year and 7 January this year. This is about 120 000 more than the same period the previous year.

Zimbabwe’s assistant regional immigration manager in charge of the border post, Mr Charles Gwede, said they handled 229 023 travellers on the exit side, an 11% increase compared to the previous festive season. On the arrivals side, 295 488 travellers entered the country, a 35% surge compared to the previous festive season.

Gwede said the highest number of travellers on the entry side was recorded on 23 December, when 42 435 people entered the country from South Africa. On the departure side, the highest number was recorded on 3 January, when 22 625 people left the country.

Gwede said most of the travellers that they handled were Zimbabweans working in South Africa who had visited home for the Christmas holiday.