285 Malawi citizens voluntary return from South Africa
Five buses carrying 285 Malawians stranded in South Africa due to lockdown arrived at Mwanza border around 10pm on Saturday night.
“These buses were supposed to arrive at Mwanza border before midday Friday , but were delayed due to logistical problems. ” says Zulu
Upon their arrival, the returnees were met by government officials from different departments and thereafter taken to Kamuzu College of Nursing where a Kameza Quarantine Centre was commissioned to manage COVID-19 in Blantyre.
Blantyre District Environmental Health Officer, Penjani Chunda welcomed the returnees, saying as a COVID-19 Blantyre response team, they learnt a lot of lessons in the first grouping of returning Malawians who were taken to Kamuzu Stadium and later left unattended to.
“This time around, upon their arrival at Mwanza Boarder, they were welcomed by government officials and given a pack comprising of biscuits, water, milk and a bucket.
“From there, they are here where we will test them and get their details; they will receive food and thereafter taken to Kanjedza Lodge where we have booked their accommodation,” said Chunda.
He added that results for the test would be known within 24 hours where, according to the nature of results, one will either be institutionally quarantined if positive or sent to their respective home districts if negative but with an emphasis of 14 days self quarantined.
This is a fifth group of Malawians who have returned home from countries they were residing as a result of COVID-19.
Malawi has 279 cumulative cases since the first COVID-19 case was recorded in April this year.
Should we say that the Government has no place to keep them for atleast two weeks to make sure they are free from Corona? Self quarantine is not possible in our local homes , should we say that the government is not aware about this? Am sorry to say but this is totally nonsense. One bedroom house with 5 kids how can you have self quarantine? We appreciate your efforts to bring the citizens back home from South Africa but failed to plan. Lack of leadership!
Well Done Malawi