The UK government has announced that individuals intending to travel to the country from Zimbabwe for more than 6 months need to undergo tuberculosis (TB) testing.
The test must be carried out by a <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">Home Office</a>-approved clinic, and an International Organisation for Migration (<a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">IOM) medical</a> certificate confirming the individual is free from TB must be obtained.
<div class="address">
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<blockquote>
Harare Migration Health Assessment Centre (MHAC) 
10 Duthie Road, Alexandra Park 
Harare
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<blockquote>
Telephone:
<ul>
<li>+263 086 8800 7618</li>
<li>+263 086 7700 9828</li>
</ul>
Mobile: +263 772 125 094
Email: <a class="govuk-link" href="mailto:HarareMHAC@iom.int">hararemhac@iom.int</a>
</blockquote>
To book a tuberculosis (TB) test appointment, individuals can visit the <a class="govuk-link" href="http://register-uktb.iom.int/uktbdp-register/login.jsp" rel="external">IOM website</a> and complete the online booking process. If a “NULL” message is received, the appointment is invalid, and the booking process must be repeated. For children under the age of 10, a copy of their passport must be emailed to the provided address to book their appointment. Operating hours are from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday to Thursday, and 8 am to 1:30 pm on Friday, with closure on <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">national holidays</a>.
The UK government said it will not accept a <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">TB test</a> certificate from an unapproved clinic. However, a <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">TB test certificate</a> is not required for <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">diplomatic passport holders</a> travelling on official business, those who qualify for an exempt visa, or those applying for a certificate of entitlement.
<h3 id="attending-the-clinic">Attending the clinic</h3>
To book a tuberculosis (TB) test appointment, individuals should contact the clinic and specify that the test is required for a UK visa application. Appointments can typically be scheduled within a few days, but during <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">peak season</a>, such as the UK student visa season from July to October, <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">wait times</a> may be up to 10 days. The <a class="govuk-link" href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tuberculosis-tb-screening-for-the-uk-leaflet">test for TB</a> involves a chest x-ray, and if the result is unclear, a <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">sputum sample</a> may also be requested. Upon receiving a <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">negative test result</a>, a certificate will be issued, which is valid for 6 months from the date of the x-ray. This certificate should be submitted with the <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">UK visa application</a>.
<h3 id="what-you-should-bring-with-you">What you should bring with you</h3>
To undergo a tuberculosis (TB) test, individuals must provide proof of identification that includes a photograph, such as a passport, and two passport-sized photographs. <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">Refugee applicants</a> must provide UNHCR/MHA registration documents. If individuals have had TB in the past or have any other <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">lung disease</a>, they should provide details of previous screenings, <a class="MarkdownLink_linkifiedLink__KxC9G">medical notes</a>, and x-ray results if possible.
<h3 id="test-fees">Test fees</h3>
Individuals must pay the clinic directly for the cost of TB testing, which is separate from the visa application fee. The fee for the TB test is 165 USD for individuals aged 11 years and above, and 75 USD for those under 11 years of age. For further information, please contact the clinic. It is important to note that the test fee does not cover the cost of any necessary treatment if an individual is diagnosed with TB.
<h3 id="payment">Payment</h3>
Payment must be made in the name of the visa applicant before the examination in US dollars (USD) in cash or bank transfer to:
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Bank name: Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe Limited 
Account name: International Organization for Migration (IOM) 
Account number: 9140006530167 (USD) 
Branch: Minerva
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</div>
<h3 id="step-by-step-procedures">Step-by-step procedures</h3>
The medical examination for visa applicants will take place from Monday to Friday, except on public holidays and UN-recognized international holidays. Applicants must present themselves to the clinic with the required identification documents. The initial examination involves a counselling session and consent signing for all applicants. Applicants below 11 years of age will undergo a medical examination by a physician, and those 11 years and above will have a chest x-ray before being reviewed by a doctor. Additional sputum cultures may be required in case of abnormal X-ray findings. A TB clearance certificate is valid for 6 months. If applicants fail to return within 7 days for sputum collection, they will not receive a clearance certificate.
Read more information on <a class="govuk-link" href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tuberculosis-tb-screening-for-the-uk-leaflet">TB screening requirements</a> for people applying for a UK visa in countries where TB is common.
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TB Testing Mandatory For Long-Term Travel from Zimbabwe To UK

The United Kingdom (UK) has announced new immigration curbs which prevent foreign postgraduate students on non-research courses to bring their family members.
Prime Minister (PM) Rishi Sunak believes that the move, which will take effect in January 2024, will help bring migration down.
The new immigration curbs are expected to impact migration levels, but the extent is uncertain since students and family members who stay for less than a year are not counted. Last year, 135 788 visas were granted to dependants of foreign students, a significant rise from 54,486 in 2021.
The announcement was made two days before official statistics showed legal migration hit a record 700,000 this year. The move was aimed at reducing migration levels, but the government has not specified an acceptable level.
The Home Secretary believes the change strikes a balance between reducing migration and the economic benefits that foreign students bring to the UK.
The BBC interviewed two Nigerian students at Wolverhampton University, who expressed their concerns about the new immigration curbs preventing foreign postgraduate students on non-research courses from bringing their family members to the UK.
Rotimi, a mechanical engineering master’s student, believes that most students come to the UK to study and want their families to be part of that experience. Titilope, an undergraduate in mental health nursing, suggests that allowing students to have their families with them would enable them to focus on their studies without worrying about their loved ones’ welfare. 
The University and College Union (UCU) criticized the new immigration curbs as a “vindictive move” that has caused deep concern in the sector. UCU’s general secretary Jo Grady believes that those accompanying foreign students to the UK bring significant value to society and deserve the right to live with their loved ones while studying. Adam Habib, director of SOAS, criticized the decision, citing financial challenges, coherence in government, and human rights concerns.
According to HESA, there were 679 970 international students in the UK in 2021/2022, with universities relying heavily on their fee income. Of these, 307,470 were undergraduates who are already ineligible to bring their families to the UK. The remaining 372,500 postgraduates include 46,350 on research courses, the majority of whom are pursuing PhDs.
Students with visas must provide documentation proving their relationship to dependents, who must pay a £490 fee for a visa and an annual immigration health surcharge of £470 to £624 for NHS services.
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UK Restricts Family Immigration For Non-research Postgrad Students

President <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Emmerson_Mnangagwa">Emmerson Mnangagwa</a> (ED) believes that the participation of the European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom at the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_International_Trade_Fair">Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF)</a> is proof that his efforts to improve relations with other countries are working.
He made this statement to journalists after touring the fair, which ended on Saturday, 29 April 2023. The president told journalists:
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The Americans are here, the British are here, the EU is here. What else would we want? Everybody is here. So this engagement and re-engagement policy is bearing fruits. Perhaps, they heard that the Majesty is coming. That’s why they are here.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe’s relations with the West have been strained due to political and economic issues, resulting in sanctions being imposed on the southern African nation. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has attempted to improve relations through his re-engagement policy, but progress has been slow due to concerns over human rights and governance. Some positive developments have occurred, such as the resumption of development aid by the EU and new funding pledges by the UK, but there are still obstacles to the full normalization of relations.
This year, over 20 countries participated at the ZITF, compared to only 13 last year. Angola, Belarus, Botswana, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Netherlands, Nigeria, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America and Zambia were the countries that participated.
The EU was the largest exhibitor, occupying 33 square meters of exhibition space, as reported by ZITF Company chairman Busisa Moyo. There were 533 exhibitors in total, taking up 46 631 square meters of exhibition space, which is 97% of the available space. This is an improvement from last year when the total space occupied was 45 786 square meters.
King Mswati III of the Royal Kingdom of Eswatini officially opened the fair and emphasized the need for greater trade and investment cooperation between Zimbabwe and Eswatini. He noted that while Eswatini imports over USD$2 billion worth of goods annually from Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe imports over USD$5.6 billion worth of goods annually from Eswatini. Despite this, trade and investment between the two countries remain insignificant compared to their economic connections with the rest of the world. Therefore, he called for closer trade and investment collaboration between the two countries.
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US, UK, EU Participation At ZITF Proof That Re-engagement Is Working  - ED

The United Kingdom (UK) last week Thursday deported another batch of nine (9) Zimbabweans barely a year after the arrival of another group of 50 was deported. 
An agreement was signed in June last year between Zimbabwe and the UK, in which the former pledged to properly treat deportees on their return,<a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/uk-deports-9-more-zimbabweans/"> The Herald</a> reports.
The UK Borders Act allows the British government to deport any foreigner who has received a jail term of at least 12 months unless some exception applies.
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Mr Livit Magejo confirmed the arrival of the latest batch. He told the Herald:
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We received nine more deportees and they have since reunited with their families.
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Some of the individuals who had been earmarked for deportation raised objections with the courts and were allowed to appeal.
Some allegedly contracted COVID-19 in some detention centres and resultantly could not be deported at that time.
Deportation of foreign nationals is subject to several exceptions, including the European Convention on Human Rights or UK’s obligations under the Refugee Convention.
All those deported have been provided with the opportunity to raise claims, including asylum and human rights claims before their deportation.
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