Police in Beitbridge intercepted 19 600 smuggled day-old chicks from South Africa and destroyed them by fire. The police say the chicks were destroyed in the presence of veterinary officials.
Smuggled imported animals are destroyed to avert the chance of them passing diseases to livestock in Zimbabwe. Hundreds of Zimbabwean cattle were shot by Botswana authorities last year as they illegally crossed the border.
Zimbabwe loses millions of dollars from smugglers every year. The Beitbridge border post and boundary has been porous for a long time despite efforts by both Zimbabwe and South African authorities investing in projects to curb smuggling.