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Zimbabwean authorities are investigating a case of twenty-three Malawian illegal immigrants who reportedly disappeared from a police station in Beitbridge.
The Chronicle reports that the immigrants were awaiting transportation to Harare pending deportation to their country.
Two of the immigrants had tested positive for the coronavirus. Below is the list of the immigrants.
- Ousmane Austin (27),
- Yamaya Saidi (26),
- Sumati Jamali (18),
- Hake Idrasl (23),
- Hajira Joe (23),
- Edward Master (18),
- Fatima Mark (27),
- Musa James (27),
- Bernard Chimenya (25),
- Dennis Bwala (18),
- Gladys shucha (24),
- Enock Halwa (24),
- Juiro Ajalu (18),
- Frank Mayazi (28),
- Blessings Wiseman (21), and
- Witness Mdala (21)
- Erison Lestah (24),
- Lejabo Mbewe (23),
- Fulani Witness (30),
- Adam Musa (22),
- Mark Musa (20),
- Madson Mwinjiro (37)
- Matola Yusuf (19).
Reports that the immigrants who were headed for South Africa were arrested on Monday around 4 am as they tried to skip the country’s border.
The immigrants had entered Zimbabwe illegally. Sources they were arrested on a footpath near the old border post offices and were charged for exit by evasion under the immigration act. A security official:
They were taken to court, where they appeared before Miss Vavariro Nhau who warned, cautioned and released them to immigration authorities for further management.
After which, arrangements were made that they are 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.
The official added that when a Zupco bus arrived in Beitbridge on Thursday, it was discovered that all the migrants had absconded.
The story reminds of a similar incident that happened last year when two Malawian border jumpers who had tested positive to Covid-19 escaped from isolation.
One of the escapees was intercepted by security agents as he sought transport to Malawi at the closed Dulivadzimu Long-distance Bus Terminus while his accomplice was never found.
More: Chronicle