02 Dec 2020

  Travellers on December 1 started to trickle into and out of Botswana through Tlokweng border gate.

This followed re-opening of some borders for passenger traffic.

As at mid-day, 268 people had registered at the Tlokweng border; 163 departures and 105 arrivals.

In an interview, officer in charge at the border gate, Ms Gaokgakala Magashula-Lekagane, said they were ready to receive travellers, adding that they had been on course since re-opening was announced.

She said staff members and customers were practicing COVID-19 protocols and that port health officials were accordingly screening results to ensure travellers were not inconvenienced.

Ms Magashula-Lekagane said they had received many enquiries regarding requirements from people wishing to travel outside Botswana.

The phased re-opening of ground crossing for passenger traffic resumed at Kazungula road, Kazungula ferry, Ngoma, Ramokgwebana, Martins Drift, Ramatlabama, Tlokweng, Mamuno, Pioneer and Mohembo on Tuesday.

A recent media statement from government communications states that all arriving travellers should meet requirements that include presentation of 72-hour COVID-19 negative results and will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms upon entry.

Travellers exiting Botswana are expected to comply with travel regulations of the destination country at their own expense, while non-citizen travellers not meeting requirements will not be allowed entry into Botswana.

Furthermore, it says returning citizens and residents not meeting the requirements will undergo 14-day mandatory quarantine and testing at their own cost. 

It says upon arrival, symptomatic clients would undergo a mandatory testing and possible isolation and or quarantine as per the Public Health Act. ends