More time needed for ports reopening

Mukudzei Chingwere in Beitbridge
Health authorities at Beitbridge border post need more time to prepare for passenger traffic to control infection across borders.

South Africa is Zimbabwe’s biggest trading partner with Beitbridge a major gateway into Africa from the sea and a number of local traders rely on South African imports for their wares.

But South Africa is the African country worst hit by Covid-19, and with an average 13 000 people likely to be crossing the border each day once unrestricted movement is allowed, the need for a continued limit is likely to remain until herd immunity through vaccination is achieved in both countries.

Only 39 percent of cases in Beitbridge district were local transmission, and opening the ports in December was partly blamed for the second wave of Covid19 infections.

Beitbridge is continuing with its vaccination programme and the district medical officer, Dr Lenos Samhere said they need more people to be vaccinated.

“Taking from what happened in December when the border was opened, we recorded a spike in cases, so this is most likely to happen when the border is open.

“What we need to do is to preposition commodities which will enable us to test. I am happy to note that our staff will manage to handle present loads. We have received more staff complement but we need more.

“Our staff has done exceptionally well though ideally we will need more. The workload in December was huge and some of our staff did not take days off,” said Dr Samhere.

He also took us through to their quarantine facilities which still had occupants, and showed the safety protocols put in place.

“Our staff here has been vigilant as well. I will tell you that fewer staff in the red zones, with Covid-19 patients, had tested positive compared to those at the general wards,” he said.

Since the onset of the pandemic Beitbridge referred more than 500 000 people for further screening at the quarantine centres, those with high temperature, Covid-19 related symptoms and those without requisite certification to prove their negative status.

In December alone, more than 75 000 people were referred for further screening and if the border reopens again, figures are expected to increase.

Environmental Health Technician at the port Mr Zamani Sibanda took The Herald through the careful and delicate processes to be allowed entry.

The painstaking detail which include taking the history of travel, certificate verification and referral for further screening.

“Now we are only dealing with drivers of commercial cargo. In December the situation was hectic and we could not rest. It was terrible and I think it is not yet safe to reopen the border,” said Mr Sibanda.

Assistant regional immigration officer in charge for Beitbridge border post, Mr Nqobile Ncube, gave the statistics of the transiting public.

“As we open up we hope not to start dealing with huge numbers from the outset. It will be difficult but we hope for a gradual increase in traffic so that our frontline workers adjust and remain safe.

“To be frank in immigration there is no time you can say we are ready, but I think we need to heighten safety protocols. I am happy to tell you that 62 of our 82 frontline officers have so far been vaccinated,” said Mr Ncube.