Over 35 000 processed as Beitbridge repatriation operations continue
More than 35 000 people have already been processed through repatriation and deportation procedures since the measures came into effect, according to the Border Management Authority.
Giving an update on the repatriation and deportation operation at the Beitbridge Port of Entry in Limpopo, BMA acting commissioner David Chilembe said that approximately 2 400 individuals were handled in a single day cycle, including about 1 700 Malawian nationals and roughly 700 Zimbabweans since Wednesday.
Chilembe stated that one of the biggest issues they faced was logistical, particularly in coordinating returns of Malawian nationals through Zimbabwe.
“Since we started here from the 7th, when the president announced the measures that we have to put in place with regards to the migration issues, we have dealt with more than 35 000 people that we have repatriated and deported through this border post.”
Chilembe explained that while the processing systems are in place, cooperation between countries remains a critical factor in ensuring smooth movement.
He noted that Malawian authorities are required to take over the process once individuals reach the transit point, but this has proven difficult due to the high volumes being managed on their side.
“When it comes to Malawians… we need the Malawian authority to take over the process from us for them to be facilitated through Zimbabwe. That is a challenge that we're currently having because the Malawian authorities seem as if they are being overwhelmed by the high numbers of people that are crossing.”
Despite these challenges, officials say coordination efforts are ongoing, with several buses already processed and others expected as part of continued transfers.
Chilembe says a key concern in the operation remains the verification of citizenship and identity, which, according to him, is essential to prevent wrongful deportations and ensure that individuals are correctly processed.
“The main challenge of the process includes the citizenship verification of everybody who goes through because we don't want a situation where we will repatriate South Africans to Malawi and then they will be having serious challenges… That's why we're going through the fingerprints process so that whenever we find somebody who's trying to evade the process… then we can get them and deal with them.”
Authorities have also confirmed plans to introduce a designated holding facility at the port of entry to accommodate individuals from both Malawi and Zimbabwe during processing.
As operations continue, officials maintain that while the border post itself is not experiencing congestion, the administrative and verification processes remain the main pressure point in managing large-scale cross-border returns.
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