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Business Writer
South Africa yesterday temporarily closed its Beitbridge Border Post after one of its customs officers tested positive for the novel coronavirus (covid19) this week.
According to border officials the border was closed to allow health authorities to carryout fumigations to minimise chances of having more infections.
Presently the South Africans are busy clearing commercial traffic which is within their customs yard pending further action.
They have stopped accepting trucks from either side of the border until the fumigation is done.
The South African Revenue Services (SARS) has since sent a notice to inter border agencies in Zimbabwe advising them of the latest development.
“Please be advised that SARS Beitbridge has been temporarily closed with immediate effect,” said SARS.
“Trucks that are currently inside the yard will be processed in order for them to leave but those that are still in the queue to enter customs will not be allowed into the yard.
“SARS BBG management is in a meeting right now and they will update us with full details once the meeting is over. The issue is Covid-19 related and may entail further closure for deep cleaning and fumigation”.
SARS spokesperson, Sicelo Mkosi, was not readily available for further details.
However, border officials said they were hopeful operations would resume at full strength soon.
Since the beginning of the lockdown, an average of 1000 trucks have been using the border post daily.
Traffic through Beitbridge peaked after other countries in the region closed their borders to contain the spread of the corona virus.
Zimbabwe remains a viable transit route for Zambia, Malawi, Angola, Tanzania, DRC and Mozambique.
Zimbabwe Revenue Authority’s (ZIMRA), regional manager, Innocent Chikuni said recently during a tour of Beitbridge by Finance Minister (Professor Mthuli Ncube) the border had become arguably the COVID-19 hotspot in the country.
Online Reporter