Harare – Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe said borders remain closed despite opening them to air travelers.
Zimbabwe imposed a national lockdown at the end of March to curb the spread of the coronavirus, and only returning residents and commercial cargo were allowed entry.
The lockdown measures are being eased, and after initially announcing that the country would be open from October 1, officials now say only airports will be open for inbound and outbound traffic.
“We haven’t opened the border at Beitbridge as yet. The border is open to commercial cargo, diplomats and returning residents. In fact, the regulations as stipulated by the current lockdown precautions still stand. However, the issue will be discussed in due course.”
Beitbridge, on the border with South Africa, is Zimbabwe’s biggest port of entry, handling over 600,000 travellers yearly.
South Africa opened its borders on Thursday, but leisure travellers from countries with coronavirus infection rates higher than South Africa, including Britain, the United States, France, India, The Netherlands and Russia will still not be permitted to enter, ministers said on Wednesday.
Business travellers from these “high-risk” countries with scarce and critical skills including diplomats, repatriated persons and investors will be allowed to enter, Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said
Zimbabwe announced Tuesday that those coming into the country would be tested for coronavirus at a cost of US$60 should they show symptoms of the disease.
Zimbabwe Borders Remain Closed For Public