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Richard Muponde, Gwanda Correspondent
THE government has rescheduled the opening of Mlambapeli Border post between Zimbabwe and Botswana in Gwanda South to June 1 because construction works are yet to be concluded.

The rescheduling of the dates was agreed between the two neighbouring countries at a meeting held in Victoria Falls last month.

The border which was mooted about 10 years ago is aimed at decongesting the Plumtree Border Post for easy movement of people and enhancing trade.

Botswana finished erecting border structures in 2008 and has been waiting for Zimbabwe to follow suit.

On the Zimbabwean side there are no structures except for a road and a borehole.

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Obedingwa Mguni, yesterday said Zimbabwe had faced some challenges in meeting the May 1 deadline.

“We agreed with our counterparts to move the dates to 1 June after a meeting in Victoria Falls where we told them our challenges.

So the date has been moved from May 1 to June 1. On 14 May we are going to hold a meeting in Gwanda to see what’s remaining.

So far we have finished constructing the road and a borehole is already there,” said Mguni.

“On 16 May we are going to have a meeting in Bulawayo with our counterparts.

Botswana said on 1 June it will start allowing people to cross from its side to Zimbabwe and said if we are not prepared it was our problem.

So we are moving with haste so that we catch up with them and not found wanting.”

The new border will come as a relief to people from the southern parts of Gwanda who had to travel to Plumtree to cross into Botswana.