CROSS-border traders have received massive boost after their organisation yesterday unveiled a cheaper Coronavirus testing facility, a move that will save them a lot of money.
Killer Zivhu, president of Cross-Border Traders Association of Zimbabwe (CBTAZ) said he had secured a laboratory in Bulawayo to test each trader for US$35 only.
Most laboratories charge a whopping US$60 for Covid-19 test.
“It is a reputable laboratory in Bulawayo run by a renowned scientist. For medical ethics l cannot reveal the name because doctors are not allowed to advertise,” said Zivhu.
The project is set to benefit over 2 million traders who are members of the organisation.
The CBTAZ boss added that he had also set up centres in all the ten provinces to collect Covid-19 samples to be tested in Bulawayo.
“These are reputable centres and will take traders samples and send them to the laboratory and tests will be speedily done and resent to the province where they came from,” he said.
Zivhu further said that the US$35 covered for tests to be done when leaving the country and when returning.
“What we are saying is that when you go to South Africa you must protect South African by testing and when you come back you should retest again to protect Zimbabweans,” said Zivhu.
“Upon returning to Zimbabwe and getting retested if they decide to go back to SA within the 14 days window period they will use the same test certificate. This would save them a lot of money because other laboratories charge US$60 per each test,” he added.
South Africa announced recently that it is re-opening it’s borders after six months of forced closure due to the novel contagious pestilence.
But, South African authorities demanded corona virus tests for all people entering South Africa.
This led to a huge cry from Zimbabwean traders who could not afford the Covid-19 test charges.
“Traders have been iddle since March and how could they afford US$60 tests per trip. This would have left them with nothing after selling their wares,” said Zivhu.
Zimbabwe is saddled with over 90 percent formal unemployment and most citizens are vendors and traders.
