A health expert has said it is too late to close Zimbabwe’s borders as thousands of citizens based abroad have already committed to returning home for the festive season.
The thousands of people returning home through the Beitbridge Border Post risk spreading the coronavirus variant recently detected in South Africa, 501.V2, to Zimbabwe.
Speaking in an interview with NewsDay, Mpilo chief executive officer Solwayo Ngwenya said Zimbabwe will have to deal with the ramifications of the coronavirus after people ignored repeated warnings not to travel. He said:
It’s too late to close the South African border as there are thousands of people already committed to spending the festive season here in Zimbabwe.
You (Zimbabweans) will have to deal with the ramifications of COVID-19, despite expert warnings and advice. People were warned not to travel, and repeatedly for months, they were warned.
Meanwhile, the Bulawayo City Council has banned annual public activities during the festive season citing escalation of COVID-19 infections.
The banned activities include the Jason Moyo Street Mall, Trade Fair funfairs and the Lunar Park.