GOVERNMENT has allocated the Department of Immigration US$400 000 to complete the construction of Maitengwe Border Post near Plumtree town.

The border, which seeks to ease congestion at Beitbridge and Plumtree is almost complete.

Maitengwe Border Post is located 60km west of Plumtree town.

The Assistant Regional Immigration Officer in charge of the western region (Plumtree), Mr Nqobile Ncube, confirmed the developments on Monday.

He said the main superstructure was already in place, adding that work was in progress.

He said the border was expected to be fully functional by end of next year.

Mr Ncube said construction of the border was mooted after the completion of Mpoengs border, which is 40km east of Plumtree town.

"We have received an allocation of US$400 000 for completing the civil works at Maitengwe border post and we hope that the border will be fully functional by end of next year.

"Work is progressing well and we have engaged the Public Works Department for the civil works and a lot of groundwork has been carried out.

"You will realise that there is a high volume of both human and vehicular traffic, which passes through Plumtree from Namibia, Botswana and South Africa and hence the need to decongest the area.

"On average 2 000 people pass through Plumtree border post per day and the number increases to 4 000 in peak times.

"The biggest number we have ever had is 7 000 people per day between December 21 and 25 last year.

"Maitengwe will service those who would want to access the country through Matabeleland North and Mphoengs is located in Matabeleland South.

"At the moment we have two officers manning these border posts operating on one shift and we will increase the staff establishment in the near future," said Mr Ncube.

He said Maitengwe borders Botswana near a town in that country named Maitengwe and also Mpoengs was located near Matshilotshi town, which is 60km from Francistown.