AN unidentified Beitbridge man sustained serious fractures in an accident where two vehicles collided during a high speed chase involving customs officials from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) at the weekend.
The accident occurred 15 kilometres west of Beitbridge town in the bushy River Ranch Farm close to an illegal crossing point on the Limpopo River.
“I understand there were two vehicles racing away from a customs and excise officials vehicle combing the Limpopo River precincts against smuggling, “the officer commanding Beitbridge Police District Chief Superintendent Mesuli Ncube said.
“Customs officers followed drone observation that showed activities on the Limpopo River where people use inflatable boats to smuggle goods at a place West of Beitbridge. When police arrived the smugglers jumped into their vehicles and fled with the officials hot in pursuit. Unfortunately the smugglers’ vehicles collided resulting in an accident during which a man was seriously injured,” Ncube said.
The injured man was taken to Beitbridge Rural District Hospital.
Ncube said customs officials recovered several items that had been smuggled across the river into Zimbabwe.
Customs and excise officials accompanied by officials from the National Task Force are going from one service centre to another in search of goods they suspect to have been smuggled.
The operation is likely to have far-reaching political implications in Beitbridge where people believe they are being victimised when big fish are smuggling minerals out of the country.
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“If you look at the bulk of goods confiscated, it’s just food and beverages reflective of food shortages. People in Beitbridge live from the border and closing it means we are being told to die. Why don't they create industries so that we work? How do you take away our source of living and replace it with nothing? We will meet in the next election,” said an angry Beitbridge resident.
