adminMidlands Bureau
THE MIDLANDS province has received 75 returnees who either volunteered or were deported from South Africa and Botswana, following an outbreak of the novel coronavirus, which resulted in many countries introducing lockdown measures to combat its spread.
Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Senator Larry Mavima said 50 were based in Botswana while 25 came from South Africa.
The returnees, he said, were ferried by Zupco buses from Beitbridge and Plumtree border posts and were now under mandatory quarantine at Gweru Polytechnic College, where they would be housed for at least eight days while undergoing screening and testing for Covid-19.
“Those that would have tested positive will then be sent to isolation treatment centres while those who would have tested negative will be released,” said Senator Mavima.
He said all the returnees would undergo mandatory testing procedure to minimise the possible transmission of the virus in case some have been infected.
Senator Mavima observed that upon arrival in Zimbabwe, the returnees were also screened at Beitbridge and Plumtree border posts, where they were temporarily housed for four days before being transferred to their provinces of origin for further quarantining.
“We are receiving returnees in the province from South Africa and Botswana. The returnees will be quarantined at Gweru Polytechnic College for the stipulated period where they will undergo mandatory testing to ensure they are safe and do not spread the virus to others,” he said.
Senator Mavima said the province had adequate food to feed the quarantined returnees after receiving significant donations from the corporate world.
In a related development, Senator Mavima received donations from various companies to help feed the quarantined returnees.
The province received 4,5 tonnes of Chibataura maize meal from Blue Ribbon as part of the 30 tonne national donation handed over to President Mnangagwa.
The maize meal was handed over by the miller’s regional marketing manager Mr Elvis Kambarami, who also gave a breakdown of the target beneficiaries.
Senator Mavima said the province also received 2 000 litres of petrol, 2 000 litres of diesel, 200 litres of hand sanitisers and 500 masks from Midlands Metals that were handed over by the company’s director Dr Staben Karimazondo.
The province also received a portable ventilator from a local medical practitioner, Dr Thomas Ndebele.
Midlands province has not yet recorded a Covid-19 infection case.
Online Reporter