The same measures being enforced amongst the general populace such as protective masks, sanitising and social distancing should apply to the returnees. Further than that returnees must be monitored daily for clinical signs and symptoms which might signal Covid-19 infection.
My experience has shown a totally different, but scary reality. And it is most likely that Zimbabwe’s Covid 19 epidemic is most likely going to be driven by her poorly managed Covid “Concentration” Centres.
I arrived in the country via Victoria Falls and was immediately placed into quarantine (I must state “voluntarily” as I could have easily skipped it).
Upon admission into the Centre at Mosia Tunya secondary school, I was immediately asked to take up space in one of the classrooms where there was space. Here people were sleeping on desks, and some on the floor, each with a single blanket. My questions on how I was to be housed with eleven people whose origin and status I was not aware of, and I also being of unknown status fell on deaf ears. In the end I decided to retire to my car. Where I spent the next four days sleeping.
Ministry of health only arrived at the centre the following day, mid-day, clad in heavy PPE, and sanitising each step of their way as they came to test the new arrivals. A crowed gathered behind me as I approached their desk to get my initial test, and these were people clamouring for tests, and results. Some had been in quarantine for 26 days, and these were from the classroom I had been asked to sleep in. Most had no face masks, and there was no sanitiser in sight. This was the last day I came in contact with MOHCC personnel.
Fast forward, I was transferred to Bulawayo a few days later. Inmates were placed in crowded buses for the 6 hour journey. Our hope was for better facilities in Bulawayo. Mind you the sleeping quarters (dusty classrooms), food (sadza and chunks), and ablution facilities at Mosi will encourage any self respecting individual to escape.
In as much as the reception and facilities were definitely better in Bulawayo, the risk of contracting COVID in captivity became more apparent. Here there is a mix of people from all sorts of places, with varying risk to covid.
The fact that our country is overly obsessed with securocratic issues was evident from day one as inmates had to undergo several security vetting processes with none from the Ministry of Health. Countless forms were filled for each of our security organs, Prisons, Intelligence, Police, and none from the Ministry of Health.
Not even once did the ministry of health come it to administer even the most basic of health checks, a temperature check.
Maybe this this treatment is necessitated by the reports circulating that most people coming back into the country are ex-convicts deported from our neighbouring countries. At the same time I should also highlight that even ex-convicts have a right to a dignified reception, and will add, not every returnee is a criminal.