Crossing Beitbridge

Ubuntu must not stop at the border.

We are watching a disaster unfold along the way to Beitbridge and other crossings.

Hundreds of people are running from fear in South Africa — leaving homes at short notice with only what they can carry. They are not criminals. They are mothers, fathers, students, workers coming home.

Yet at roadblocks and at the border we are seeing systematic targeting:
- Heavy penalties for missing cross-border permits (even in a situation where someone is carrying their personal stuff)
- Demands for passports from people who fled with nothing

A permit takes time. Most of those do not have passports. When you run for your life, you don’t go to the police station first. You run.

We believe this is the moment for Ubuntu.
A person is a person because of other people.

What we have seen is a humanitarian disaster. This did not take a week to come to this but was allowed to brew over a long period, possibly years and now all of a sudden this. Poor policies have mainly contributed to this situation and even the response is not long term.
Families have been broken, communities displaced and the future of generations shattered.

Leaving South Africa. The border is full of north bound trucks and buses. Thousands of passengers in buses are also at the border. The queue for trucks going to Zimbabwe and beyond is stretching over four kilometres.

With tensions rising around xenophobic talk in South Africa, many Zimbabweans are choosing to travel home. Reading the situation early can help you avoid trouble at the border and on the road.

1. Watch the tone, not just the news
Pay attention to how people talk in taxis, bus ranks, WhatsApp groups. When conversations shift from “crime” to “foreigners” or “outsiders”, and when jokes turn to threats, that’s a warning sign. Dehumanizing language often comes before action.

2. Notice changes in movement
Sudden roadblocks, groups gathering at night, police withdrawing from certain areas, or shops closing early are red flags. If your usual route feels different, trust that feeling and change plans.

3. Avoid night travel + travel in groups
Most incidents happen after dark or to people traveling alone. Move during daylight, use registered buses, and cross Beitbridge border post with others. There’s safety in numbers.

4. Keep documents + essentials accessible
If you must move fast, have IDs, permits, and a small bag ready. But don’t carry large consignments without export paperwork — ZIMRA may delay you at the border.

5. Have exit contacts saved
Save numbers for SAPS 10111, Zimbabwe Embassy Pretoria, and local NGOs like Lawyers for Human Rights. Tell someone your route and ETA.

Your safety comes first. Coming home is important, but coming home safe is the goal.