By Rex Mphisa
A 62-year old British national Elizabeth Dawn Whyte has been jailed for four months for illegally border-jumping into Zimbabwe.
Whyte appeared before Beitbridge Provincial Magistrate Grace Kachepa on allegations of jumping the border into Zimbabwe.
Kachepa wholly suspended the jail term on condition of good behaviour for the next five years.
On Wednesday, in the interests of time, Kachepa had referred to appear again Thursday for continuation of her trial and was remanded in custody.
Whyte of 3 Tayside Street Carnoust Ingus Copper Scotland, United Kingdom and is unemployed, is accused of contravening section 29(1)(a) (2a) of the Immigration Act Chapter 4:02 (Being an alien enter, be or remain in Zimbabwe without a permit).
It is alleged that on the June 2, 2026, at Beitbridge Border Post Bus Exit search bay, Whyte was found to have unlawfully entered Zimbabwe through Beitbridge Border Post without valid documents permitting her to enter or remain in Zimbabwe.
On May 30 2026, it was agreed, at around 0700hours, Whyte, entered Zimbabwe through Beitbridge Border Post illegally without presenting herself to an immigration officer.
She went to Beitbridge Town.
At around 2300 hours and at Beitbridge Border Post Bus search bay, the accused person was intercepted by an Immigration Officer on duty as she was about to return to SA in the company if a very youth dreadlocked male companion.
The state said she did not have a valid passport.
When the immigration officer examined the document, it was discovered Whyte had a valid passport but did not have a valid visitor’s entry certificate permitting her to enter Zimbabwe from South Africa.
Reason Mutimba prosecuted while Whyte was not represented.