Nearly
700 Zimbabweans have died in South Africa during the ongoing lockdown meant to
contain the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.
Zimbabwe’s consul-general to
Johannesburg, Melody Chaurura said yesterday that documents had been processed
for the repatriation of the remains of 693 Zimbabweans from the neighbouring
country between March 30 and May 22.
She said the bodies were repatriated
by road via Beitbridge Border Post.
Chaurura said the destinations of the
bodies were spread across the country and most of the people died due to
natural causes. “During the period under review we processed documents to
repatriate remains of 693 for burial in Zimbabwe,” she said.
Chaurura said the repatriation process
had not changed and her office stands guided by recommendations from the
Ministry of Health and Child Care.
“Under the system, all bodies being
repatriated to Zimbabwe for burial will be treated as contagious except in
cases where the cause of death is a road accident, murder or other body
injuries. All the bodies now require the clearance of the Ministry of Health
and Child Care prior to their transportation to Zimbabwe under the usual
procedures,” she said.
Chaurura said relatives accompanying
bodies are now being subjected to mandatory quarantine at any port of entry
upon arrival in the country before proceeding to the various destinations.
Zimbabwean and South African health
authorities came up with stringent measures recently to curtail the spread of
the pandemic.
The move follows consultations among
South African based funeral parlours and authorities from the two neighbouring
countries.
Chaurura said it was important for
Zimbabweans who seek to travel home to note that they will have to undergo 21
days of mandatory quarantining upon arrival.
“We are happy that our host Government
has been granting permits to those who request to travel back to Zimbabwe on
varying personal emergencies including bereavement,” said Chaurura.
Besides the Ministry of Health and
Child Care clearance, a birth certificate or national identification documents
of the deceased are needed at the Consulate for documentation for those
travelling by road.
In the case of the remains being
flown, a passport is mandatory as well as a copy of the informant’s particulars
and a burial order.
On average it costs R15 000 to transport a body from South Africa to Zimbabwe by road.
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