Harare, (New Ziana) – At least 30 Zimbabweans came back home from various countries on Monday, and were immediately quarantined as a precaution against Covid-19, a senior government official said.

In spite of most countries around the world being in Covid-19 lockdown,
and having closed borders – including Zimbabwe – all nations were,
nonetheless, still admitting their nationals on their return home.

In a tweet, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services permanent
secretary, Nick Mangwana said all Monday’s returnees had been compulsorily quarantined as a precaution against the Covid-19 pandemic.

“30 Zimbabweans arrived aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight today (Monday),” he said.

“They are coming from a number of different countries and all of them
are being compulsorily quarantined at Zipam in Darwendale.”

Zipam, known in full as the Zimbabwe Institute of Public
Administration and Management, is a government entity responsible for
designing and implementing training, consultancy and research for the
civil service, local authorities and parastatals.

The institution runs a 102 bed facility in Darwendale, about 73 kms
west of Harare, which has been turned into a COVID-19 isolation
centre.

Aviation sources said some of the returnees were from the United Kingdom
and the United States, two of the countries hardest hit by the pandemic.

Last month, infected returnees and visitors from the two countries passed
on the virus to others locally, resulting in death.

Zimbabwe has so far registered 14 Covid-19 cases, and three deaths among
these.

Ethiopian Airlines, which had temporarily halted operations following
the outbreak of the coronavirus, resumed operations to Zimbabwe on
April 1.

Zipam was already hosting 34 other returnees who are yet to complete
their isolation period.

The government, through the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and
Social Welfare is bearing the cost of looking after the returnees.
New Ziana