The government of Zimbabwe has finally re-opened its land borders to all private motorists and pedestrians.
This development comes after Cabinet recently approved the re-opening of the land borders to people starting with private motorists and pedestrians and with public transport at some stage in the first quarter of next year.
According to Harare.com, the government finalized the legal instrument to operationalize Cabinet’s decision granting the opening of the country’s points of entry, yesterday November 30, 2020.
Zimbabwe’s five major border posts that are Beitbridge, Plumtree, Forbes, Chirundu, and Victoria Falls border posts are now fully operational for the first time since the 1st of March when the country went into a coronavirus-induced national lockdown.
According to the Herald, all is set and all the necessary preparations have been made for private motorists and pedestrians to safely use the land border posts with the deployment of more staff and equipment and strict health safety measures in place.
The reopening of the border is only meant for private motorists and pedestrians, public buses are expected to follow in the first quarter of next year after assessment.
As a way to curb the spread of COVID-19, private passenger vehicles and pedestrians coming or going outside Zimbabwe through any of the open border posts are expected to go through strict testing and screening in line with the ongoing COVID-19 protocols.
In addition, travelers coming into Zimbabwe will have to produce a COVID-19-free certificate issued not earlier than the previous 48 hours.
COVID-19 free travelers who will be allowed passage whilst travelers with symptoms of COVID-19 will be refused entry into Zimbabwe despite producing the certificate. Meanwhile, the curfew has been maintained to be in force between 10 pm and 6 am.