Zimbabwe closes its borders amid a surge in COVID-19 cases

The government of Zimbabwe have instituted a 30-day national lockdown closing its international borders.

The International Cross-Border Traders Association (ICTA) confirmed that no travel into or out of Zimbabwe would be allowed until the end of January at the earliest.

Zimbabwe closes its borders

Zimbabwe’s government reinstituted a national lockdown on Saturday 2 January causing great concern for those in the country that rely on informal cross-border trade to make ends meet.

Hospitals, pharmacies and supermarkets will remain in service along with other essential services with the hard lockdown sparking despair in some and anger in others.

A landlocked country, Zimbabwe is bordered by South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique. The country is particularly reliant on imports from South Africa and suffers frequent shortages of essential goods.

Already beset by economic crisis, hyperinflation and high unemployment there are fears that a prolonged lockdown could push the country over the edge.

Vice President and Health minister Constantino Chiwenga insists that government had little choice but to return to a hard lockdown with health resources strained by a surge in COVID-19 cases.

“In light of the recent surge in Covid-19 cases the following stiff lockdown measures are being put in place with immediate effect,” Chiwenga said over the weekend.

“Gatherings are reduced to not more than 30 people at all funerals. All other gatherings at weddings, churches, bars, bottle stores, gymnasiums, restaurants etc etc are banned for 30 days.”

Businesses and other premises providing essential services will be required to shut their doors at 15:00 while the curfew has been extended to 12 hours, running from 18:00 to 06:00.

In the last two months the number of COVID-19 cases in Zimbabwe has surged from 8,374 at the start of November to 14,084.

Zimbabwe has officially recorded 369 virus-related deaths since the outset of the pandemic last year.

The country’s borders only reopened at the end of November and were beset by logistical issues including a lack of COVID-19 tests and other supplies.

A large number of Zimbabweans legally crossed the border into South Africa last week after rumours of their governments intention to lock down again spread, causing traffic jams at border posts.

An anonymous Zimbabwean who crossed the border last week told SABC News: “South African side are processing papers very quickly there’s no delay there in South African side the Zimbabwean side as well is only the traffic jam the cars are too much in Zimbabwean side there’s a rumour, which is circulating that maybe on 3rd of January the border is going to be closed. I thought is better for me to go the earlier. We are afraid to stay in Zimbabwe the border might be closed while still in Zimbabwe.”

South African Police Services have also reported arrests of Zimbabwean nationals attempting to gain entry into South Africa by illegal means.

Read: Zimbabwean citizen dies while waiting to cross border