Zimbabwe’s cash strapped government has given a green light to returning residents wishing to finance their stay at quarantine facilities of their choice during the mandatory quarantine period.

The latest u-turn by the government comes barely a month after it slashed the mandatory quarantine period by one half, citing that the country does not have resources to follow the two-week period recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Speaking at Tuesday’s Post Cabinet Media Briefing, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said that returning residents will no longer be forced into government-designated Covid-19 isolation centers they are not comfortable with for as long as they have the financial muscle to book into facilities of their choice.

‘Cabinet resolved that returnees who offer to pay for themselves be allowed to do so on condition that the facility is secure and subject to inspection by health and security officials and that reputable and established companies be contracted to supply Covid-19 materials,’ said Mutsvangwa.

Information secretary Nick Mangwana also confirmed the development on social media.

Writing on his Twitter account Mangwana said,

‘The returnees wishing to pay for their own accommodation and upkeep will now be allowed to do so on condition the place is secure and is subject to inspection by both health and security officials.’ said Mangwana.

The returnees wishing to pay for their own accommodation and upkeep will now be allowed to do so on condition the place is secure and is subject to inspection by both health and security officials

This also follows after the government had a standoff with residents who returned home from the United kingdom over poor living and sanitary conditions at one of the designated quarantine centres.

The returnees who were camped at Belvedere Teacher’s college torched a social media storm after it emerged that they were resisting mandatory quarantine at the facility, whilst demanding to be accommodated in a hotel.