By McGeorge Mbare
IN the midst of a crisis in Beitbridge Town, businesswoman Purity Gwenda has emerged at the forefront, displaying the true Zimbabwean spirit of hospitality to Malawian nationals who are volunteering moving out of South Africa at their own expense.
The Beitbridge mother Theresa , Purity Gwenda, owner of Black Sheep Shop, provided free food to stranded Malawians coming out of South Africa ahead of the 30 June 2026 deadline, by which foreigners have been told to vacate the country.
Speaking to Ziyah News Network, Gwenda said, “I just walked to work and found a huge crowd of Malawians, elderly people and children looking hungry and stranded. I thought of cooking a simple meal to help them survive as they wait for transport to their respective destinations.”
The businesswoman cooked rice, salad, and chicken for the Malawians stranded at the Beitbridge Bus Rank.
Also speaking to Ziyah News Network, Bus Rank Chairman Elliot Maveza said business is increasing, but he appealed to local authorities to provide mobile toilets and security for the stranded Malawians who have no money left to pay for the public pay toilet at the Renk.
“Our business is increasing, but there is a challenge with Malawians who are stranded with no money to even pay for a toilet. We need security and mobile toilets at the Rank to help us keep our place clean and safe,” Maveza said.
He added that he fears for the safety of Malawian citizens, citing that some have lost their belongings to thieves. He said security should be prioritized.
One Malawian national said, “We feel safer in Beitbridge than in South Africa, where we faced threats.”
The current human movement upheaval witnessed at Beitbridge is historic and will for many years be spoken about, the way Wenela Mining exoduses remain famous.
The migration flow continues to intensify, with many people flooding into the border town. Some are facing robberies at the Limpopo River’s illegal crossing points as they try to meet the 30 June deadline.