The ManicaPost
Rumbidzayi Zinyuke Senior Reporter
AUTHORITIES at Forbes Border Post in Mutare have called for the testing of all truck drivers passing through the port of entry as most of them spend up to three days in the city while waiting for customs clearance.
Forbes Border Post is only open to cargo trucks and returning citizens, but the number of trucks that go through the port has remained high.
Speaking during a joint tour by the Thematic Committee on Peace and Security and the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing yesterday (Thursday), Forbes Border Post Port health officer, Mr Christopher Nyoni said truck drivers in transit are exempted from quarantine.
However, since clearance can take up to three days, the same drivers are free to move around and mix with citizens, which becomes a challenge in the management of the pandemic.
Mr Nyoni said an average of 600 truck drivers are screened at Forbes on a daily basis, but they are not tested.
“We have truck drivers coming in everyday, but we only do temperature checks and interview them. The testing is not done here. These drivers are in transit and they pass through at least four countries — Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique and South Africa — and all these countries have Covid-19 cases.
“When they get here, they can only proceed after customs clearance, which can take up to three days and during that time, they are not confined to their trucks, they move around and mix with citizens.
“Early detection and management of cases would be ideal,” he said.
He said there is need to capacitate the port authorities to test for Covid-19 to ensure that appropriate measures are taken in dealing with potential cases.
The Thematic Committee’s chairperson, Cde Mirriam Chikukwa said, “We realise the need to have testing equipment at the border post since there is interaction with residents. We hope Government will respond to this and capacitate all border posts to ensure that the fight against Covid-19 is won,” she said.
