the monitor

Vegetable smuggling on the rise

Vegetables: FILE PIC
Vegetables: FILE PIC

The ban on importation of select vegetable varieties into the country from South Africa and other veggie-export countries is keeping the police on their toes as smugglers continue to elude border authorities to bring vegetables into the country.

Last December, government decided to ban some vegetable imports in a bid to force local food retailers to buy vegetables from local farmers but efforts to meet the national demand are falling short.

Police along the borderline are unable to keep up with the rising number of vegetable smugglers who continue to find ways of bringing the perishables into the country despite the ban.

This can be attested to by Ramatlabama Police Station commander, Superintendent Zibani Mbisana who said they are currently investigating a case in which two taxi drivers were arrested for possession of two combis full of onions near Ditlharapa village on Friday night.

He stated that following a stop and search by the police the duo failed to account for loads of onions suspected to be smuggled into the country from South Africa.

“The duo was found in possession of loads of onions. They had removed chairs from the two combis and filled them up with onions. The suspects were heading towards Gaborone when their journey was interrupted by the police,” Mbisana said.

“We have since handed the suspects to BURS {Botswana Unified Revenue Service} who have charged them with a P5,000 fine and confiscated the onions.”

Mbisana revealed that the illegal importation of vegetables remains a concern as they continue to arrest and charge people for smuggling perishables every week.

He said that this shows that the demand for vegetables is high as people continue to smuggle them despite the ban.

Editor's Comment
UDC's 100 Days: Please deliver your promises!

We duly congratulate them to have ousted the long ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) from power. Prior to taking power from the BDP, the coalition had made several election promises that are credited for influencing change and swaying the people to vote in its favour.The party had made an undertaking, which its leader and President Duma Boko consistently bellowed in his campaign trail. These undertakings were promises that Batswana would be...

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