Beitbridge border post to remain open – SA

South Africa said that it will not be closing the Beitbridge border with Zimbabwe as it battles to contain an outbreak of the novel coronavirus Covid-19.

35 of 53 ports are to be closed but not Zimbabwe’s as it is the only one and is their ‘gateway to Africa’.

The country will be sending officials there to enhance containment and monitoring the outbreak at the border post.

South African Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi said some borders with Namibia would be closed. Namibia recorded its first cases of the highly contagious disease this weekend.

Zimbabwe has no confirmed cases of Covid-19 according government and World Health Organisation data.

This border being left open should be a good thing for the flow of trade for Zimbabweans who rely heavily on their southern neighbours for goods and economic activity particularly in Matabeleland and Masvingo. Also relieved is the Musina end which is beneficiary of this activity from Zimbabwe.