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Botswana, with No COVID-19 Cases, Closes Borders After Death in Zimbabwe

Mqondisi Dube

   GABORONE - Botswana, one of the few countries in Africa without a
   confirmed case of coronavirus, has moved to secure its borders after
   neighboring Zimbabwe recorded its first coronavirus-related death on
   Monday. Soldiers will be watching border crossings, but authorities say
   Zimbabweans who use unauthorized entry points present a real challenge.

   Botswana's government announced Tuesday it was closing all border
   crossing points with immediate effect.

   Botswana's Vice President Slumber Tsogwane addressed the nation on
   state television.

   "The movement of people visiting neighboring countries including
   Lesotho and Swaziland is restricted. His excellency the President
   recently undertook an emergency official trip to Namibia to seize the
   presence of other regional heads of state to discuss critical COVID-19
   measures taken in respect of countries sharing borders with Botswana,"
   said Tsogwane.

   The closures will remain in place until further notice. Citizens will
   be allowed to return home, but must submit to a 14-day quarantine.

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