SCORES of Zimbabweans who were detained in Tanzania over
coronavirus (Covid-19) arrived in the country on Saturday after government
intervention, the Daily News can report.
The 107 Zimbabweans who had travelled to the East African
country early last week aboard Air Zimbabwe, met horror upon landing at the
airport when they were ordered to go into self-isolation for 14 days at own
cost, a measure taken by the John Magufuli-led government to stop the spread of
the deadly virus that has killed thousands worldwide since December last year.
Foreign Affairs deputy minister David Musabayana told the
Daily News the affected people were freed after the intervention of the
Zimbabwean government.
“They are all back in the country. The last batch which
comprised four people arrived in the country on Saturday; the majority of them
came earlier. When the Zimbabwean embassy in Tanzania intervened, they agreed
to come back home,” Musabayana said.
A video circulated on social media showed scores of
desperate travelling Zimbabweans, most of them the traders, resisting
undergoing the 14-day quarantine, demanding to be returned home.
In order to effectively reduce the spread of Covid-19, the
Tanzanian government has imposed mandatory 14-day quarantine to all travellers,
including foreigners and returning residents, arriving from Covid-19-affected
countries at their own cost.
“After 14 days quarantine, passengers who have not
developed symptoms of Covid-19 may leave the facilities and will be required to
register personal information for future possible tracking purpose. All people
residing in
Tanzania are advised to avoid nonessential travels to
Covid-19 affected countries,” reads part of the statement from the Tanzanian
government to its citizens.
For one to stay in the hotel for a period of two weeks, one
has to part with at least US$1 000 given that most of the hotels in Dar
es-Salaam charge between US$50 and US$60 per night for bed and breakfast.
Moreover, the Tanzanian government has banned all tourist
flights before closing all tourist hotels in the country as part of the
precautionary measures to stop the deadly virus. Daily News
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