 But, every year, at this time of the year, there is a reversal of this tide as an almost similar number of them, now wearing broad smiles, travel the opposite direction ahead of the festive season.
Although this trend is transpiring at the moment, it appears there has been a slight, if not tiny, decrease in the number of Zimbabweans that appear to have intentions of going back to their troubled homeland, a development that members of the Zimbabwean public and transport operators attribute to the escalating problems.
Among the hindrances that have slowed down activity at the termini around Johannesburg, they said, is the escalation of the economic problems which does not assure anyone where the next meal would be coming from as soon as groceries brought from South Africa are all consumed, as well as the forthcoming presidential elections which has sent many travelers, most of them illegal, fretting that the elections would as in previous years, result in authorities tightening the screws of the porous border post.
Nonetheless, the courageous among them remain defiant insist on traveling which has maintained the hive of activity that termini such as the popular Park Station in Johannesburg is.
Transport operator, Trynos Mazanhi, who plies the Johannesburg-Harare route said although they were not fully booked as in previous years at this time of the year, he was satisfied with the number of passengers that utilized their services.
“There might be problems which are discouraging them to spend the festive season in Zimbabwe, but not something that can impact negatively businesses during the season. The reduction of travelers is hardly noticeable,” said the confident driver.
His confidence is understandable if you consider how many Zimbabweans still insist that home is home even if it does not look homely.
 Among them is Kwekwe-bound Owen Mbano, who is defiant in the wake of problems riling his beloved country.
 There is no way I am going to spend Christmas and New Year’s Days without my family. I toil throughout the year in South Africa every year in South Africa and there is nothing as relaxing as spending quality time with one’s family,” he said reclining in his seat after several minutes panting
under the searing weight of an assortment of groceries that he laboured to load at the bus’ luggage carrier.
A few kilometers east of the terminus, Esibayeni, where the enterprising Omalayitsha operate, it is that time of the year where they make a killing transporting travelers and goods.
 Trust Ngwenya who plies the Joburg-Bulawayo route said although there had been a slight drop in passengers what mattered most is that business had peaked with those that intend to go.
“We do not concern ourselves with people that are not going. Why would we?” Ngwenya, comfortably perched at the driver’s seat of his luxury Toyota Quantum, quipped.
“The trips I will make to Zimbabwe might be fewer than previous years but there is no denying that Zimbabweans are still traveling in droves back home,” he added under the voice of passengers who incessantly ask him when the trip will be resuming.
The Johannesburg-Zimbabwe route, otherwise known as the N1, is accident prone especially at this time of the season, a development that many believe discourages Zimbabweans traveling back home.
Police have however swooped on the highway adding that traffic offenders would face the full wrath, a development that has assured the human tsunami.
“I would appreciate it if traffic police enhance safety at the highway. However this hindrance and the fact that things are worsening back home cannot stop me visiting my homeland…even if some of my friends and relatives are not going.
 “I cannot wait to go and spend quality time far from the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg,” said Mbongeni Nleya, whose company closes on the 20th for the festive season.There are more than three million Zimbabweans living in South Africa, the highest population of Zimbabwean that are based outside their country. The number reduces marginally at this time of the year as a high number of them spend the festive season back home-CAJ News.
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