Zimbabwe’s land borders reopen to private passenger vehicles

Zimbabwe reopened its land borders to private passenger vehicles on Wednesday, December 2 just in time for the holiday season.

Travellers wanting to visit Zimbabwe will need to present a health certificate no older than 48 hours that indicate they have tested negative for Covid-19.

According to Monica Mutsvangwa, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, the six main borders to reopen will include Plumtree, Nyamapanda, Chirundu, Victoria Falls and Forbes, with special attention placed on the Beitbridge border, as this port of entry carries the bulk of vehicle and human traffic entering the country.

‘The borders will open first to private passenger vehicles and pedestrian traffic as from December 1,’ said Mutsvangwa. ‘While further assessment is being undertaken with regard to preparations for handling public passenger transport,’ she added.

The aforementioned border entries will operate from 6am and 6pm on a daily basis.

The health and safety of visitors entering Zimbabwe has been given top priority, with officials on sides of the Beitbridge Border meeting in the run up to the opening of the border to come up with strategies on how to best stop the spread of COVID-19.

‘We held several meetings in the run-up to the opening of the border with local stakeholders and South Africa. Ministers of both countries met last week where strategies of reducing queues and increasing temperature screening, hand washing and other measures were emphasised,’ said Nqobile Ncube, Beitbridge Border Post Assistant Regional Immigration Officer, to Tourism Update.