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Dr Masimba Mavaza
Many Zimbabweans visited home for Christmas in December, but these are different times, as coming back home after a long time is a memorable moment.
If you planned everything really well and there haven’t been any delays, you should have taken off from Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport towards Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, then on to Heathrow in London.
You are finally sitting on board that same flight you have already cancelled and postponed 10 times.
It’s bitter-sweet.
You are still saying goodbyes to old friends, new road friends and places, despite having already done that numerous times.
But it is time you finally accomplished all the things you wanted to do during this long, solo unplanned journey and this chapter of your life is now completed.
You could not have asked for more since the main goal has been achieved – that is becoming a calmer, wiser, slower, finest, better version of yourself having been rejuvenated by being back home.
Zimbabwe and its beautiful people have shaped that little, scared, lonely you that was desperately crying at the airport on your first trip to UK.
That person does not exist anymore and has been replaced by a stronger, fulfilled, empowered person who loves themselves and the world around.
You are ready to go home also because you have managed to achieve your second, accidental goal.
After so much struggle and hustle, doubts and failures, today and for the past few months, you are standing tall on the tiny successes of your independent lifestyle.
You have been able to travel only with the income made on the road, you can finally call yourself a real digital nomad and for this you have been able to oversee some developments in your home area.
The holiday has been incredible and so amazing and especially humbling. The places and people you have met made you the person you are today.
Now you are on your way back to England. And this is the coronavirus period.
Under UK Covid-19 restrictions, you must stay at home. It is illegal to travel abroad for holidays.
Do not travel unless you are legally permitted to do so. In England, you must complete a declaration form for international travel.
To enter or return to the UK from abroad (except from Ireland), you must follow stringent rules.
These include providing your journey and contact details, and evidence of a negative Covid-19 test before you travel.
When you arrive, you must quarantine and take additional Covid-19 tests. This will take place in a managed quarantine hotel if you enter England from a red listed country, or enter Scotland.
Unfortunately, Zimbabwe is on the British Covid-19 red list.
You have spent all the monies in Zimbabwe and you are looking forward to making more in the UK. It is your home now. Your spouse is waiting for you in the UK. Things are not balancing without you.
At the same time you have financial obligations back home.
You are now told at Bole International Airport that the FCDO advises against all, but essential travel to the whole of Zimbabwe based on the current assessment of Covid-19 risks.
From 9 January, visitors arriving in England who would have been in or transited through Zimbabwe in the previous 10 days will not be permitted entry.
British and Irish nationals, and third country nationals with residence rights in the UK arriving in England from Zimbabwe will be required to quarantine in a hotel.
Different rules apply for arrivals into Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The hotel sounds good. But you have to part with a whooping £2 000. This covers your quarantine period.
Travellers should follow the advice of the local authorities on how best to protect themselves and others, including any measures that they bring in to control the virus.
You should contact your tour operator or airline if you have any questions about your return journey.
Travel to Zimbabwe is subject to entry restrictions.
Zimbabwe opened its land borders and international airports to tourists in addition to Zimbabwean nationals and valid permit holders on 1 December 2020.
Tourists and non-residents entering Zimbabwe must possess a negative Covid-19 test result issued no more than 48 hours before their arrival at the port of entry.
If you are not a Zimbabwean citizen or resident and you do not have a negative test result, or if you exhibit Covid-19 symptoms on arrival, you will be denied entry into Zimbabwe.
But now you want to go back to England.
Those who had accommodated you in Zimbabwe are not willing to take you back or you will sleep on the couch. They have to give back their child his bedroom.
As you have learnt so much about relatives at home, you realised that they are not willing to have you longer than the finishing line of your funds.
You are now more scared of the known than the unknown.
While you were home, you were taken advantage of as they decided to shape new opportunities just for themselves.
And when you try to forgive them you realised that all the things you did for them they are not appreciating them.
Finally, you look into the mirror, deep in thought and while hugging your angry self, you say: “You are forgiven”.
Sometimes you can prepare for life, but you cannot predict what life throws at you. You can’t blame yourself for wanting more, for having bigger dreams, expectations, for accepting the unexpected more than the expected.
During the time you stayed in Zimbabwe forced by Covid-19, you have had some of the most incredible experiences of your life.
You experienced painful emotions, you have swum with turtles, crocodiles hippopotamus and clown fish, you have seen countless sunrises and sunsets.
Again, while you were home you have been blessed by incredible people you met, while other people wasted your time.
Now, you are going back to UK which is under lockdown.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to get travel insurance and to keep updating it.
Online Reporter