More than 1.5 million travellers crossed the Beitbridge Border Post during the festive holiday period, turning Southern Africa’s busiest gateway into a nonstop river of people, buses, and vehicles. From Christmas through early January, scenes of endless queues and packed terminals dominated social media as Zimbabweans living in South Africa travelled home to reunite with family — and then rushed back as work resumed.
Officials say the surge reflects the strong cross-border ties between Zimbabwe and South Africa, with peak days processing tens of thousands of travellers. While delays were reported, the volume alone tells a powerful story: Beitbridge remains the heartbeat of regional movement, especially during the holidays.
