By Staff Reporter
Following the immediate shutting down of borders by the Zimbabwean government for 30 days as Covid-19 cases surge, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will be deploying helicopters to hover above the Limpopo River to curb corrupt and illegal activities that are taking place at the scene.
This is according to the Home Affairs Minister, eNCA latest news has revealed.
This came after the South African Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has been inspecting the Beitbridge border, where he witnessed dozens of Zimbabweans trying to make their way illegally into South Africa.
“The two governments have intensified patrols along the border, with South African Police Service deploying helicopters to hover above the Limpopo River and the South African Police Service (SAPS) will have boats in it.
“You can’t just come with your fraudulent documents. The person who wants to enter your country with a fraudulent document is undermining your sovereignty, is undermining the order in your country, is undermining all the laws,” the minister said.
In the past few days, the Zimbabwe Republic Police has arrested 275 people who were trying to cross the border without valid travel documents.
People who were planning to travel in and out of Zimbabwe will have to wait after the government closed for 30 days with immediate effect except for commercial services only, the International Cross-Border Traders Association (ICTA) confirmed.
Motsoaledi added that the government has implemented strict measures to stop people from entering the country illegally.
Vice President and Health Minister Constantino Chiwenga for Zimbabwe told reporters that there had been a huge spike in cases over the festive season which almost doubled the number of infections recorded throughout the year.
It has been revealed that Zimbabwe was already struggling with a deepening economic crisis, hyperinflation, and high unemployment thus there was a need to remain vigilant in as much as preventing the spread of the epidemic is concerned.