At the Ha Tshirundu settlement on the South African side of the Limpopo River, illegal cross-border smuggling and migration have surged as the dry season sets in, ahead of the festive season. Local headman Malindi Kwinda shared with Daily Maverick that goods such as groceries, soap, cooking oil, rice, and clothes are smuggled from South Africa into Zimbabwe using donkey carts and vehicles. The river, which separates the two nations, has become a key crossing point for smuggling and undocumented migration, and this activity is expected to intensify in the coming weeks.
Kwinda explained that the settlement, located less than a kilometer from the river, serves as a stopover point for migrants and smugglers, who rest and offload goods before transporting them into Zimbabwe. Smugglers use the river to cross on foot or with the help of donkeys, making it a hotspot for border patrol efforts by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
While the smuggling operation is illegal, for many Zimbabweans, it is a survival strategy in response to the nation’s severe economic downturn and hyperinflation. Goods that would be prohibitively expensive in Zimbabwe are much cheaper in South Africa, creating a consistent flow of individuals crossing into the country to purchase necessities. Zimbabwean nationals, such as Milicent, travel from as far as eight hours away to purchase food and supplies that are otherwise scarce or unaffordable in their home country.
Smuggling has become more widespread, as many cannot afford the legal border crossing process, and they resort to using unofficial entry points like Ha Tshirundu. The goods typically include alcohol, cigarettes, and other consumables, which smugglers avoid paying customs duties on.
Among the individuals involved in these activities are the notorious goma gomas—criminals who smuggle not only goods but also people, sometimes subjecting migrants to violence, including robbery and sexual assault. The goma gomas are known to exploit the vulnerable status of undocumented individuals, knowing that they are unlikely to report crimes for fear of deportation. They are also involved in smuggling more dangerous items such as drugs, explosives, and even wildlife products like ivory.
SANDF Lieutenant Colonel Mzoxolo Ketsekile, who heads Operation Corona, acknowledged the rising threat posed by the goma gomas and the challenges in securing the extensive border area. Despite efforts by the SANDF to increase patrols and surveillance, such as using drones to monitor the movement of people and vehicles, the porous nature of the border remains a significant obstacle.
The lack of a proper border fence exacerbates the issue, with some sections of the existing fence either missing or damaged. Kwinda and other locals have pointed out that while the SANDF and the police work hard to combat the illegal activities, their efforts are often undermined by the weak infrastructure.
Operation Corona, which was launched on 1 September, has led to the arrest of 154 individuals attempting to cross the border illegally and the seizure of illicit goods worth over R33 million. Yet, the persistent issues of smuggling and undocumented migration show no sign of easing, particularly with the approach of the festive season, when border traffic traditionally peaks.
For many Zimbabweans, the hardships of hyperinflation and economic instability continue to push them to risk illegal crossings and smuggling operations, making the border region a critical point of focus for authorities battling not just the flow of goods but the broader social and economic implications of cross-border migration and smuggling.