Fourteen Zimbabwean children from Tsholotsho were detained in Botswana for 48 days after attempting to travel to South Africa without proper travel documents.
The children, who missed three weeks of school, were reunited with their families last Friday. Their parents expressed regret, emphasizing the importance of acquiring passports for future travel.
Mr. Milikani Moyo, a parent, revealed his relief upon seeing his child again, vowing to secure proper documentation in the future. Other parents, including Ms. Simelinkosi Mathe and Mrs. Nomalungelo Ndlovu, echoed similar sentiments, acknowledging the hardship and fear during the ordeal.
Councillor Esau Siwela stressed the need for educating the community on the dangers of unauthorized cross-border travel, while Matabeleland South Provincial Social Welfare Officer Criswell Nyakudya warned that the parents and those facilitating the journey could have faced arrest for breaching trafficking laws.
Authorities highlighted the risks involved and urged communities to follow legal procedures for cross-border travel.
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