BULAWAYO has received about 400 deportees from Botswana who
have been moved from their previous quarantine centre, Plumtree High School to
provide them with better living conditions and ease crowding.
The deportees, from across Zimbabwe started arriving in
buses yesterday afternoon. Some were housed at Bulawayo Polytechnic while
others are lodged at the United College of Education (UCE).
When the Chronicle arrived at the quarantine sites, a total
of 120 people had arrived at Bulawayo Polytechnic while about 100 were said to
have arrived at UCE as more buses were still on their way with more deportees.
The deportees were carrying their few belongings, mostly in
satchels. Most of them complained that they left valuables that they were never
given the chance to collect before being deported to Zimbabwe.
The news crew could not interview the deportees yesterday
after health personnel said not all safety requirements had been put in place
for interaction.
However, it was established that two people were sharing a
room at the hostels.
Hillside Teachers’ College is expected to take in more
deportees, but no deportees had been taken there yet.
The deportees will spend nine days at their centres in
Bulawayo after they had already spent six days under quarantine in Plumtree.
In a statement on his official Twitter handle, Permanent
Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting services
Mr Nick Mangwana said some deportees were being moved to Bulawayo where they
will be housed at Government tertiary education colleges.
“Plumtree High is now holding 450 people returning from
Botswana. Due to the facilities being overwhelmed, decongestion is in progress
and some of the people there are being moved to Hillside College, UCE and
Bulawayo Poly where additional placements have been identified,” he said.
In a telephone interview, Bulawayo Provincial Affairs
Minister Cde Judith Ncube yesterday said the deportees had settled in well
although a lot of work was still underway to ensure successful quarantine. Chronicle
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