At least twenty three people have escaped form quarantine facilities provided by the Zimbabwe government. Nineteen of the people are suspected ex convicts quarantined at the NSSA hotel in Beitbridge.
Most of the Beitbridge escapees are believed to be part of the criminals that were pardoned by South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa in a way to decongest covid-19 hit prisons. Some of them are also criminals who facilitate the illegal movement of people from Zimbabwe to South Africa. When caught, they are deported to Zimbabwe and forced to be in quarantine for at least 14 days.
The 19 – who were being held for a mandatory 21-day quarantine – broke out of the facility on Monday night, officials said.
All of the escapees had tested negative for coronavirus.
Police managed to track and arrest three people in Chiredzi who broke the quarantine rules. One of them is from Zaka and two from are from Chipinge.
The five escaped from Rupangwana Isolation Centre in Chiredzi.
Lovemore Chisema, the Chiredzi District Development coordinator confirmed the escape and also stated the escapees tested negative for covid-19.
“The two men from Chipinge escaped before they were tested,” he said.
Zimbabwe has been detaining returning nationals in quarantine centres across the country for 21 days, during which they are tested for the coronavirus twice before they released. Many detainees complain about facilities at the centres, which sometimes lack basic amenities.
Six hotels and lodges in Harare have been accepting returnees who can pay for their keep, according to government spokesman Ndavaningi Mangwana. The, all in Harare, are Umswidale Lodge, Baines B&B, York Lodge, Malcolm Lodge, Bronte Hotel and 22 Argyle Apartments.
Zimbabwe says it has 46 coronavirus cases including four deaths and 18 recoveries.