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Musina Mayor Mihloti Muhlope at the border post with Zimbabwe’s Minister of the Interior and Cultural Heritage, Kazembe Kazembe, the Minister of the Interior, Aaron Motsoaledi, and the Interior Media Liaison Officer, Siya Qoza. (Photo: Bernard Chiguvare)
Zimbabweans returning home for the holidays need a negative Covid-19 certificate to travel in both directions. The certificate costs at least R850 in South Africa and roughly R920 in Zimbabwe, and some say they can’t afford it.
First Posted by GroundUp
Many Zimbabweans who live and work in South Africa travel back home at the end of the year to spend the Christmas and New Year holidays with their families. But several said Ground they could not afford the test, which is required by both the Zimbabwean and South African governments.
Zimbabweans traveling home must submit a negative Covid-19 test that is no older than 48 hours. The test costs R850 in a private laboratory.
“If you want to travel to another country, yes, you need a Covid-19 certificate. It is something private for you, so you can visit private laboratories for the Covid-19 test and get a certificate, ”said Thilivhali Muavha, spokesperson for the Limpopo health department. “Public hospitals don’t do that.”
Upon return to South Africa, travelers from Zimbabwe must submit a negative test no longer than 72 hours. That test costs $ 60 USD (about R920).
At a meeting in Musina on November 27, Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi and Zimbabwe’s Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Kazembe Kazembe said regulations must be followed.
“We are going to demand Covid-19 certificates,” Motsoaledi said.
Marvelous Moyo, who runs a food stand near South Africa’s gate, said that since March this year he had not been able to afford to visit his family in Masvingo because the closure had affected his business.
“Although borders were opened so that we could travel back home, I was not able to travel back home. My only way to make a living is selling food in this place.
“The little money I have received since we were allowed to go back to business is not enough to cover travel expenses, including Covid-19 certificates.”
I want both governments to remove this requirement because I really need to visit my family, ”Moyo said.
Another Zimbabwean trader, Ruth Chirinda, also raised concerns about the certificate. “I really miss my three children who are being cared for by my mother. Since March I have not been able to travel back home. It is now December and I need to spend the holidays with the family, ”said Chirinda.
Other Zimbabweans said GroundUup they would use illegal routes to return home.
Speaking to the media, Kazembe said: “We need to save lives. This pandemic is real. We urge our citizens to plan their trips. If you know you want to travel in a couple of weeks, do what is expected of you to avoid problems at the border ”.
“Now that the borders are open, it will not be free for everyone,” Motsoaledi said.
“We are going to be very strict.”
He said there would be joint operations involving SANDF, SAPS, municipal police and SARS to minimize illegal crossing. And steps were taken to detect fake Covid-19 certificates, he said. DM
