WEDNESDAY, 6.OOPM
THE Zimbabwe air force says it will patrol the Limpopo River frontier with helicopter patrols, following the deaths of 36 people attempting to swim the river to South Africa last weekend (see below).
WEDNESDAY, 2.OOPM
TWENTY NINE members of a Zimbabwe sect followed the words of a “prophet” and swam in to the swollen waters of the Limpopo River at the weekend — where they are believed to have drowned while attempting to cross illegally in to South Africa.
Zimbabwe’s Beit Bridge police spokesman Chief Inspector Helmand Shoko said the group, members of a sect called ‘Vapostori’, are thought to have been carried away when they stepped into the crocodile-infested river, after the prophet had knelt on the banks in prayer for divine guidance to guarantee their safety.
Shoko said the believers were believed to have paid up to Zimbabwe $500 (R130) to ‘guides’ claiming to know a safe way across the Limpopo.
So far, only one of the 29 bodies has been recovered — half-eaten by crocodiles. Zimbabwe police are looking for “confidence” men who lead border crossers to the river, and plan to bring charges of extortion against suspects.
Another group of four Zimbabweans also attempted to cross on Sunday at midnight, but only one survived, struggling back to the river bank. Four Mozambicans are also believed to have drowned while attempting the crossing on Monday night, bringing the total number of people to have drowned crossing the river at the weekend to 36.
“People should not fool themselves into taking unneccessary risks,” said spokesman Superintendent Wayne Bvudzijena. “If the waters do not sweep you away, the crocodile is likely to eat you.”
Thousands of unemployed Zimbabweans and Mozambicans attempt to enter South Africa illegally every year. According to official Zimbabwe figures, half a million Zimbabweans work in South Africa.