By Rex Mphisa
BEITBRIDGE residents are querying the genuineness of porters who carry goods for shoppers from South Africa to Zimbabwe following incidences where some travellers lost their goods.
The porters, commonly called maZalawi, derived from a Zambian company of cross-border haulage trucks because of their loading, make out a living by carrying cross border shoppers goods between the SA border Post taxi rank and Zimbabwe.
The service is extended to the Zimbabwe taxi rank for various amounts depending largely on value.
Charges also depend on whether one wants the goods declared or not.
Of late, however, some maZalawi have turned rogue and are disappearing with their clients’ goods.
Several reports have been made, and this week the issue was burning at the Beitbridge Progressive Residents Whatsapp group.
“I am missing muZalawi, male, who carried a black plastic bag with 10 kilogrammes of various goods. He left me on the SA side. I heard he was seen on the Zim side but I cannot locate him,” said one shopper from the group.
Immediately several similar incidences were reported revealing the several people duped by the porters.
“They used to have numbers but now they do not. You have to use one you know or sick by him throughout,” said another resident claiming to have been victim of the porters.
Some people lost valuables with a contributor alleging her daughter lost R4 500 worth of goods.
“They are preparing for Christmas and people should be careful,” suggested a resident.
One porter said shoppers should be careful when selecting who can carry their goods.
“Regular travellers have to use people they know. We have some among us who came just to steal. People should ask for reliable porters before they go shopping and create relationships,” said naMary, a female porter.
“Some of us have been here for years,” she said.
Some residents believe that while the maZalawi provided an essential service, their operations must be monitored.
“Border authorities should sit and devise a method of how these porters operate. The first point is to agree their service is important but how can it be formalised? How can they be made accountable? They are getting away with crime,” said another resident.
A stakeholder at the border said the issue was more like a double edged sword.
“If you regulate will it not start the ‘local’ issues? Issues like employment for locals being taken away? Will Immigration and Zimra start paying more attention to the maZalawi? These are some of the issues one has to think of juxtaposed against essential service provided,” said the stakeholder.