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Herald Reporter

Better security at quarantine centres has stopped returning Zimbabweans escaping to go home early and the Government will continue to beef up security to thwart crime and escapes from the centres, a cabinet minister has said.

So far 161 returning citizens and residents have escaped from quarantine centres before completing the mandatory 8 days and two tests before being allowed to finish the 21-day quarantine period at home.

Police have managed to arrest 26 of those who left without authority. There have also been complaints about some returnees giving false addresses.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Minister Kazembe Kazembe, Permanent Secretary Mr Aaron Nhepera, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and senior officers yesterday assessed the security at Harare Polytechnic, Prince Edward School and Selbourne Routledge School quarantine centres.

In an interview after the tour, the minister said: “The main purpose of the tour was to have an appreciation of the situation in our quarantine centres especially with regards to the security situation. You know we have had situations were returnees have escaped from quarantine centres, so we wanted to have first-hand information of how exactly the situation is on the ground.

“So far I have visited three centres and I am very convinced that from what I saw at the moment and also after speaking to social welfare officers, they don’t have any problems at the moment and they are happy with the numbers of security officers. I am very confident that the situation is under control,” Minister Kazembe said.

He said officers at the quarantine raised issues that require antention.

“So these are the issues that we are going to raise with the Task Force to try and find ways to ensure that the welfare of our people and their security is taken care of,” Minister Kazembe said.

On children housed at the centres, Minister Kazembe said: “Efforts are being made to ensure that a conducive environment is availed to them. Yes, its undesirable for toddlers to be mixing and mingling with adults, so government is looking into that and a solution will be there very soon.”

Minister Kazembe said in cases where school children were to return to schools for examinations, the Government had identified other places where quarantined people would be relocated.

“We have already identified some other suitable or potential quarantine centres and we are working around the clock to ensure that those centres are ready. So we will definitely move people from facilities that are supposed to meant for education. So we will be ready by the time the exam classes open,” he said.

Meanwhile, a total of 1 377 people were arrested on Wednesday countrywide for offences related to contravening the national lockdown regulations after police and other security services beefed up security countrywide on Tuesday. This brings the total number to 53 418 of people who have been arrested since the onset of the lockdown on March 31.

Of the 53 418, Manicaland has the highest number with 10 539 followed by Bulawayo with 10 343 while Harare has 10 179. National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner ,Paul Nyathi confirmed the latest arrests and said the total number of border jumpers arrested so far was now 121.

He urged the public to conscientiously adhere to the measures put in place by Government to minimise the risk.