23 vanish from Beitbridge police station

Thupeyo Muleya

AUTHORITIES in Beitbridge are investigating a case in which 23 Malawian border jumpers allegedly vanished from Beitbridge main police station while awaiting transportation to Harare pending deportation to their country.

Two of the immigrants are reported to have tested positive for Covid-19.

The group had allegedly entered the country illegally and were in transit to South Africa when they were arrested on a footpath near the old border post offices.

 A security source said following their arrest the 23 were charged for exit by evasion under the Immigration Act.

“They were taken to court, where they appeared before Miss Vavariro Nhau who warned, cautioned and released them to immigration authorities for further management.

“Arrangements were then made that they be kept at the main police station pending transportation to Harare. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) sponsored their transportation under the regional facility for stranded migrants,” said the source.

The official added that when a Zupco bus arrived in Beitbridge to ferry the immigrants on Thursday, it was then discovered that they were missing.

The police officer commanding Beitbridge, Chief Superintendent Tichaona Nyongo, and the Assistant Regional Immigration officer in charge of Beitbridge, Mr Nqobile Ncube could not be reached for comment.