Thousands of Zimbabweans are trying to cross the Beitbridge border in South Africa to escape the country’s economic crisis.
Current situation at Beitbridge border between Zimbabwe and South Africa 🚮🚮🚮 pic.twitter.com/2CIg6vkg0k
— Lerato Pillay (@Lerato_Pillay) January 5, 2021
COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Zimbabwe, which has managed to avoid the worst of the COVID-19 outbreak, recording just 15,265 cases and 380 deaths in total, so far. On Sunday Zimbabwe recorded 774 Covid cases, with 571 new infections after a series of images and videos surfaced of New Year’s parties with no regard for masks and/or social distancing.
As a result of the ensuing panic, the Zimbabwean government has enforced a strict 30-day national lockdown, according to The Guardian. Across the country, 2,321 people were arrested on New Year’s Day for breaking lockdown measures, including 200 teenagers at a house party in Westgate, Harare.
On Monday, hundreds of people tried to make their way into South Africa following acting president, Kembo Mohadi’s announcement about the return to a level 4 lockdown, which includes a 6pm to 6am curfew, according to Daily Maverick.
South Africa’s Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi says that 500 people are arrested for attempting to illegally cross the border every day.
There have been several other issues with fleeing Zimbabweans at the Beitbridge border, including the use of forged COVID-19 certificates, while there have also been allegations of corruption at border checkpoints. SANDF is assisting in the defence of the country’s borders and have arrested as many as 2,000 people in a single evening.
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