GOVERNMENT has decreed that bodies of people who died
outside the country will be treated as if they have the Covid-19 contagion and
will be subjected to stringent vetting before being allowed into the country
for burial.
Only those who died from accidents or other body injuries
may be exempted.With immediate effect, only one person will drive a hearse
ferrying a body into the country.
Relatives may accompany the body up to the border where
they will be quarantined for 21 days while the remains proceed for burial. The drastic decision was announced by the
Zimbabwe Consulate in South Africa.
South Africa, home to thousands of Zimbabweans, is one of
the countries that have been seriously hit by the deadly virus in the continent
as more than 3 500 have been infected.
In Zimbabwe 29 cases have been recorded so far including
four deaths and two recoveries.
Zimbabweans who die in South Africa are mainly accompanied
by friends and relatives home for burial.
Both Zimbabwe and South Africa are on lockdown to prevent
the spread of Covid-19.
In a statement on Tuesday, Zimbabwe’s Consul-General to
South Africa Ms Melody Chaurura said the country, through the Ministry of
Health and Child Care, had taken decisive measures to protect citizens from
being exposed to Covid-19.
“All bodies being repatriated to Zimbabwe for burial will
be treated as contagious except in cases where the cause of death is road
accident, murder or other body injuries. Consequently, all such mortal remains
will require clearance by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in Zimbabwe
using the usual clearance channels,” she said.
“Relatives accompanying the remains will be subjected to 21
days mandatory quarantine at the designated points before proceeding to the
funeral. (The same applies in cases where the body is transiting through
Zimbabwe.) Only the driver of the hearse is allowed to proceed to the final
place of burial in Zimbabwe and is required to return to South Africa
immediately after burial,” said Ms Chaurura.
Ms Chaurura directed all funeral parlours to comply with
the latest measures.
The chairman of the Inner-City Funeral Directors
Association- South Africa (IFDA-SA), Mr Nkosi Kwanike Nare said funeral
parlours have received communication from the consulate.
“This is a relief to the Death Care Industry and we are
thankful to the authorities for considering our proposal. We understand that
there have been some information dissemination challenges with the Port of
Entry Staff and we have been assured that it’s being taken care of,” said Mr
Nare.
He said parlours had to approach authorities after
encountering a number of challenges with border authorities over the
ever-changing repatriation regulations.
In some cases, he said the parlours had to return with
bodies to South Africa after failing to meet requirements.
Mr Nare said they had been told to leave the bodies with
Zimbabwean parlours for onward transportation but they failed to agree on
sharing costs.
“It costs an average of R15 000 to transport a body from
South Africa to Zimbabwe and our counterparts were now charging R12 000 from
Beitbridge to inland Zimbabwe. This model proved to be difficult for our
members and most bereaved families,” he said.
Under normal circumstances at least 60 bodies are brought
into the country through Beitbridge Border Post weekly for burial. Chronicle
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