THE 15 Ethiopian illegal immigrants who had been quarantined in Gwanda for coronavirus assessment have been reportedly released to the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPSC) after they all tested negative for the virus.

The group was arrested last month after they failed to cross to South Africa through the Beitbridge Border Post after it was closed for passengers due to Covid-19. The illegal immigrants were being housed at a homestead in Mawane One Village in Swisha.

They were subsequently tested and quarantined to ascertain whether they had Covid-19. One of the immigrants was detained at Gwanda Provincial Hospital where he was recovering from dehydration.

In an interview with Sunday News last Thursday, Matabeleland South Provincial Medical Director, Dr Rudo Chikodzore said the illegal immigrants tested negative and have been released from the quarantine to the care of ZPCS.

“The group was released after they tested negative for Covid-19. All due processes were then followed leading them to be released from the quarantine and handed over to the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services,” said Dr Chikodzore.

Before the quarantine, the 15 Ethiopians had appeared in court and remanded in custody facing a charge of contravening Section 11(1) of the Immigration Act Chapter 4:02, entry by evasion.

Due to the communication barrier it was only ascertained that the accused persons were from Ethiopia without valid travel documents but the port of entry which they used could not be established since their Zimbabwean assistant had escaped. They were allegedly left by Ethan Ndlovu, a cross-border transporter under the care of his friend only identified as Bheki.

The group was reportedly housed at Mr Fani Ndlovu’s homestead with the assistance of a cross-border transporter based in Beitbridge, Ethan, who is Mr Ndlovu’s son, and Bheki. Ethan was also assisting with groceries while Bheki who reportedly fled from the homestead when police arrived, was their caretaker.

-State Media