Several alleged criminals who crossed Zimbabwe’s borders
into Botswana and South Africa to escape prosecution are hidden among the
returnees quarantined in centres across the country.
Police yesterday confirmed that they had compiled names of
suspects who could have escaped into the neighbouring countries. Some returnees
volunteered to return while others were deported.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul
Nyati yesterday told The Herald that police had names of suspected criminals
who would be taken to court and prosecuted.
Assistant Commissioner Nyati said one suspected criminal
from Plumtree who returned a few days ago had since been taken to court to
answer to his charges.
Yesterday about 135 people who were returning into the
country from Botswana and South Africa arrived in Harare where they were taken
to Harare Polytechnic for quarantine.
Out of the 135 people, who arrived at Harare Polytechnic
yesterday afternoon, some would be continuing their journeys to Mashonaland
East and West since the policy is to quarantine people as close to home as possible.
More people were expected to arrive in Harare by midnight.
The exercise to quarantine all returning residents is part
of the measures put in place by Government to reduce the spread of the deadly
Covid-19.
Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour
and Social Welfare Mr Clifford Motera said they had prepared a number of
quarantine centres around the capital.
“We have Belvedere Teachers College, Queen Elizabeth
School, Prince Edward, Allan Wilson, Harare Girls High School and Morgan
ZINTEC.
“There is also another batch of 18 people who were being
quarantined at Courtney Hotel who will be discharged any time depending on the
recommendations by officials from the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
“Once the officials from the ministry give them
certificates to leave, they will be released,” he said.
Mr Motera said his ministry was expecting more returnees
who were coming home aboard Ethiopian Airways. He said this group would be
taken to ZIPAM quarantine centre.
Manicaland also received 229 returnees who are housed at
four isolation centres in Mutare.
By midday yesterday, Rowa Training Centre, Forestry
Industrial Training Centre and Magamba Training Centre had reached maximum
capacity with some being taken to Mutare Teachers College.
Manicaland acting Provincial Coordinator Mr Edgars Seenza
said the 229 returnees had come through Forbes, Plumtree and Beitbridge border
posts.
“The last two buses that arrived today came from Beitbridge
and we also received two buses from Plumtree during the night. We are
continuing to receive these returning citizens not only from the two ports of
entry but also through Forbes Border Post and we are prepared to accommodate
them,” he said.
Rowa quarantine facility has the capacity to house 45
people while FITC houses 46, Magamba 76 and Mutare Teachers
College 150.
Other centres lined up to accommodate returning residents
are Marymount Teachers College, with a capacity of 120, Mutare Poly (150),
Hande High School in Buhera (44), Hotspring Resort in Chimanimani (29), Lydia
Chimonyo High School in Chimanimani (54) and Simukai Child Protection
Rehabilitation Centre.
Manicaland has been on high alert following reports that
hundreds of returnees from abroad were supposed to come through Beira last week
when a ship from the United States docked.
Minister of State for Manicaland Affairs and Devolution Dr
Ellen Gwaradzimba said the ship had, however, not docked at Beira as planned as
it had no authorisation and was redirected to South Africa.
The returnees who were travelling on the ship were expected
in the country on May 7.
“We were expecting quite a number of people coming from
outside Zimbabwe through Beira but we have had some communication with some
people who were on board a ship coming from the United States.
“Initially they were supposed to dock at the Port of Beira
but they didn’t have permission to do so and they had to go through South
Africa. We have people at FITC and these people came from South Africa but I
cannot confirm with certainty that they are part of the group who we were on
the ship. We will need to devise a system to establish whether the people we
are receiving through Beitbridge are coming from abroad or South Africa so that
we know the exact situation we are likely to handle,” said Dr Gwaradzimba. Herald
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