The government of Zimbabwe has given the green light to returning citizens to book into quarantine facilities of their choice at their own expense.
Citizens will be allowed to undergo 21 days of quarantine in hotels or lodges of their choice provided that the facility is secure and subject to inspection by health and security officials, among other things.
Speaking at Tuesday’s Post Cabinet Media Briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said:
Cabinet resolved that returnees who offer to pay for themselves be allowed to do so on condition that the facility is secure and subject to inspection by health and security officials and that reputable and established companies be contracted to supply Covid-19 materials.
The development comes after a group of citizens who were returning from the United Kingdom condemned the conditions at Belvedere Teachers’ College in Harare where they were quarantined.
Meanwhile, the government will continue to provide services to those who cannot afford to pay for luxurious facilities.
Returning citizens have been subjected to periods of between 14 and 21 days of quarantine mostly at teachers’ colleges and boarding schools.