Below is an account by sources on the ground in Beitbridge where soldiers opened fire to disperse cross border traders.

The development was covered LIVE by ZimEye.com.

ZimEye was told that the problem started from yesterday as Zimra began frustrating cross border traders by asking them to pay duty twice.

Our source narrating this saying: “The procedure was that they are made to go into a shed area and offload their goods. Zimra at that time then calculates the duties payable. After paying, the border traders load their goods.

“After being, released they come to a second stop which is called anti-smuggling where they once again present themselves, this time to other Zimra officers waiting for them. They are asked to offload again and duties are recalculated and they are asked for top ups;

“Their complaint however is what was the purpose of the first search; why can’t they just do it at once at one place, not to delay people for 2 days stuck in the border, which is not fair.

“So since yesterday (Saturday) it has been happening and at this morning they couldn’t have any of it and started demonstrating at the shed, until solders were called in to restore order. Right now they have gone back into their Crs, and solders are monitoring them. The queues however are very long.”