27 Feb 2022

Botswana repatriated 305 mortal remains to Zimbabwe between January and December last year, 100 of which were from COVID-19 related deaths.

Briefing the Minister of Health and Wellness recently, port health principal technical officer, Ms Kenanao David, said accompanying documents were inspected at the border and the only challenge was that some corpses were without infection or non-infectious certificates.

This, she said, led to the return of the corpses to Botswana for proper documentation to be done,  something that delayed transportation of corpses.

She said with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, screening of travellers had been intensified, adding that testing was also introduced, while all travellers entering the country were required to bring valid COVID-19 negative test results.

Ms David said from January to December 2021, they registered 521 positive cases at the border, who were then isolated at either Matsiloje, Masunga Primary Hospital, Ntshe Isolation

Centre or homes, if they were citizens or residents, while visitors were repatriated to their countries of origin.

“Out of the 521 positive cases registered, 364 were isolated in Botswana while 157 were repatriated to Zimbabwe as they were just visiting,” she said.

Ms David said some of the challenges they faced included fake vaccination cards from Zimbabwe, adding that most clients complained about being vaccinated at points of entry while some refused for religious reasons and others indicated that they did not have money to pay for the tests.

She said lack of accommodation frustrated productivity because officers commuted from nearby villages such as Jackalas 1, Ramokgwebana and Moroka.

In response,  health minister, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, said government was doing all it could to ensure that citizens were protected from the effects of COVID-19.

He said reports were promising since members of the public were taking their second doses and booster.

Dr Dikoloti urged Batswana to take the jabs, while vaccines were still available.

Principal customs officer, Mr Service Chipo, said smuggling of goods was a challenge.

Mr Chipo said smuggled goods included electronic equipment, bales and petrol, cigarettes and alcohol. ENDS