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Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
Government has started installing Closed-Circuit Televisions (CCTVs) at Beitbridge border post to curb corruption, the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Obedingwa Mguni, said yesterday.

The Deputy Minister said the CCTVs would be switched on “in a few days’ time.”

He said resorting to video surveillance was part of a raft of measures the government was employing to deal with corruption in order to maximise on revenue collection.

Mguni said the installation of the gadgets at the main immigration hall began a week ago and installation on the customs hall is pending.

“We’re behind schedule as the machines should’ve been up and running by now. They will be switched on in a few days to come and they will be monitored from one central point. There will help us in addressing challenges that are affecting smooth flow of both cargo and human traffic,” he said.

“After Beitbridge we’re going to install the same machines at Plumtree border post which is the second busiest inland port of entry in the country. We will also implement the same strategies at Chirundu border post.”

Mguni said they will soon deploy mobile gold detecting machines at Beitbridge where smuggling of the precious mineral was rife. “We’re also in the midst of training more sniffer dogs to deal with the issue of smuggling of minerals and other natural resources such as ivory.

You will note that most criminals are now smuggling ivory in powder form hence we’ve to adapt to all these new tricks,” he said.

Cde Mguni urged immigration and customs officers and other government workers at the country’s borders to shun corruption.“Corrupt elements are bleeding our economy and affecting the revenue collection. Government is therefore putting measures in place to fight corruption hence the installation of the CCTVs,” he said.

The Deputy Minister said the government was finalising the processes of identifying a developer who will upgrade and expand infrastructure at Beitbridge border post to expedite the implementation of the one-stop border post concept between Zimbabwe and South Africa.