36 Congolese ‘Refugees’ Intercepted At Plumtree, Trying To Exit Zimbabwe Illegally

Thirty six Congolese refugees were intercepted at Plumtree Border Post while trying to illegally exit the country into Botswana.

The foreigners are said to have escaped from Tongogara Refugee Camp in Manicaland.

According to the Chronicle, the group comprised adults and children.

They were taken to Plumtree Prison where they are being held awaiting to be handed over to the Social Services Department in Plumtree.

They were intercepted at night while they were in a bushy area.

They  did not have travel documents and when they were questioned but revealed that they had fled their country to escape the instability there.

Assistant Regional Immigration Officer-in-charge of Plumtree Border Post, Nqobile Ncube, said the group was intercepted at the border and all the 36 refugees were being held in the border town’s prison.

He said the matter was now being handled by the social service department.

“The nature of the matter required us to hand over the issue to the office of the commissioner of refugees which is the social welfare. That is what we have done because these people appear to be refugees.

“The 36 suspects were intercepted close to the Plumtree Border Post and we have handed them over to the relevant department. They appeared to comprise different Congolese families and they are of different ages,” said Ncube. Source: Chronicle