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Marythar Kambinda
Aron Mushaukwa
LUHONONO – Group members of the Kabbe North and South constituencies within the Zambezi area are annoyed by the closure of the immigration workplace at Luhonono, making it tough for them to cross into neighbouring Zambia.
They stated because of this, they’re compelled to cross into Zambia illegally as they can’t afford to journey to Katima Mulilo and again to get their passports stamped or to get border passes. It’s because the price of travelling is greater than what they make, as most of them do not need jobs.
Chindo Lubinda from Luhonono within the Kabbe North constituency has been a type of affected, stating that they used to search out life simpler due to the proximity to Zambia, the place he and others might purchase meals resembling maize meal as a result of brief commute.
“However because the outbreak of Covid-19, they closed down the workplace. We will thus not get border passes right here, except we journey to Katima Mulilo.
Every time we now cross into Zambia, we’re compelled to cover, as it’s an unlawful crossing. If the Zambian officers discover you, they place you below arrest, and it’s important to pay a high-quality of about N$5 000,” he stated.
Lubinda added that if a person occurs to be fortunate and never get caught, they may nonetheless should cope with cops on the Namibian facet, who confiscate the maize meal and cooking oil that they purchase in Zambia.
“This has grow to be an issue, as we have no idea how we’ll survive. Why has our nation forgotten us, as we even have voters’ playing cards and do as our nation asks of us? However once we attempt to discover methods to outlive, our authorities doesn’t come to our support,” he famous with discernible disappointment.
One other neighborhood member from Luhonono in Kabbe North, Boniface Muyunda, stated they survive from shopping for meals in Zambia as transport from Luhonono to Katima Mulilo is about N$160 to go and are available again, whereas a 25kg of maize meal is N$240.
“It’s higher for us to purchase in Zambia, which is nearer. This previous month, there was a gaggle which was caught illegally crossing to go and purchase meals, and so they had been arrested. That is all attributable to the truth that we have now no immigration workplace right here.
They had been fined 5 000 Zambian Kwacha every, however there is no such thing as a such factor as getting any receipt when making that cost. “Since they might not pay the price, they had been moved to the cells at Shesheke till I managed to assemble some cash and bought them out”, stated Muyunda.
Residents pressured that each one these points could possibly be prevented if they’d an immigration workplace inside the space, and expressed the hope that Authorities would take heed to their plight.
Rosemary Chika can also be from Luhonono in Kabbe North, and felt the closure of the immigration workplace has simply introduced difficulties for them.
“I’m stunned that the federal government isn’t enthusiastic about us. They constructed us a tarred highway, however forgot the truth that we will not eat the highway. In the case of campaigning, they would be the first ones right here, with out enthusiastic about the place we discover meals.
Zambia is nearer to us than Katima Mulilo, in addition to less expensive for us. We have now been shopping for in Zambia for years. At instances, we even cross over to Zambia for medical causes as there is no such thing as a X-ray machine right here,” she elucidated.
Contacted for remark, the deputy director for immigration in Zambezi Matrida Musweu admitted that they’re conscious of the state of affairs.
“The Luhonono border submit was closed throughout Covid-19 when different borders additionally closed within the area. When the opposite borders had been reopened, the Luhonono and Kamenga borders weren’t opened. Nonetheless, the 2 governments are in negotiations to discover a answer,” she said.
Musweu, nonetheless, hinted that the Kamenga border submit at Singalamwe may quickly open, because the ministry has already put constructions there.
Issues are trying bleak at Luhonono, because the ministry has no everlasting constructions there.
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