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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
A GROUP of 30 border jumpers including two infants aged two and five was held captive for three days by a gang of men operating as a syndicate that facilitates border jumping at Beitbridge Border Post. Seven men linked to the racket were arrested following an early morning police swoop on their base along the Limpopo River.

The officer commanding police in Beitbridge District Chief Superintendent Patrick Majuta said the suspects were arrested on Monday at an illegal crossing point near Panda Mine area.

He said the suspects were part of a 10-men gang that held captive 30 border jumpers for three days. They had promised to assist the illegal immigrants to cross into South Africa through Beitbridge Border Post before they reneged under unclear circumstances.
Chief Supt Majuta said the other three suspects were still at large.

The suspects are from Tsholotsho, Chipinge and Masvingo districts.
“Among the victims were infants aged between one and five. Our preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects, who were travelling in three vehicles, a Toyota Quantum, Nissan Hard-body and a Toyota Hilux were engaged by the complainants at the weekend so that they could facilitate their illegal migration to South Africa through Beitbridge Border Post,” Chief Supt Majuta said.

He said instead of taking the border jumpers to the border post, the suspects drove to a homestead in Phepu village near Panda Mine where they held them hostage for three days.

“The gang robbed the border jumpers of their cellphones so that they could not communicate with their relatives. They also assaulted the victims whenever they resisted their orders,” said Chief Supt Majuta.

The issue came to light when one of the victims sent a text message to his parents in Kwekwe notifying them of the development.

“The parents then reported to us and we then carried out raids on several illegal crossing points and rescued the victims arresting the seven suspects. We also seized two cars, a Toyota Quantum and a Nissan Hard-body, used in ferrying the border jumpers,” he said.