NINE Malawian border jumpers who were intercepted along
with 32 others after skipping the border from South Africa have tested positive
for Covid-19.
They have now been put on isolation at the National Social
Security (NSSA) hotel in Beitbridge. Thirty two others have since been moved by
the Government to their embassy in Harare pending repatriation.
The group was intercepted yesterday by security agents on
patrol while seeking transport from haulage trucks at a local truck stop. The
Director of Social Welfare in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social
Welfare, Mr Totamirepi Tirivavi confirmed the developments today.
“The group was profiled and screened for the Covid-19 and
nine have been isolated in Beitbridge pending further PCR tests,” he said.
“These will only be allowed to travel once they are fit to
do so. We have since moved 32 others to Harare in liaison with the Malawian
Embassy pending their repatriation.”
Meanwhile, the police are yet to locate 19 people who
escaped quarantine in Beitbridge on Monday night.
The escapees are part of the people arrested along the
Limpopo for facilitating the smuggling of goods. So far 27 people have escaped
from the centre since it started operating. The first group of eight absconded
in the first week of operation prompting authorities to beef up security with
the army. The Beitbridge quarantine centre can carry 280 people but the
Government has set the maximum at 150.
By midday today the centre had 60 people which includes 33
male adults, seven boys, 15 female adults and five young girls. In addition,
the place is used for screening and dispatching Zimbabweans coming from South
Africa to different provincial quarantine centres nearer to their final
destinations. Herald
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