Zimbabwe begins using the Trusted Travel Initiative Platform

In October 2020, the African Union officially launched the Trusted Travel platform as part of the overall Trusted Travel Initiative during a joint ministerial meeting of the ministers of health, transport, and information and communication of African Union Member States.

 

The African Union Commission and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) launched the Saving Lives, Economies and Livelihoods campaign to promote hassle-free travel across Africa while, at the same time, preventing cross-border spread of COVID-19 infection. Developed by PanaBIOS Consortium and Econet Group as a public-private partnership with Africa CDC, Trusted Travel is a top-class digital solution to support Member States in verifying COVID-19 test certificates for travellers and to help harmonize entry and exit screening across the continent.

 

The platform provides information on travel requirements at the departure and destination ports and access to a list of government approved laboratories for COVID-19 testing in African countries. It allows travellers to upload their COVID-19 test results online for easy verification by port health and travel officials, and helps in the detection of forged certificates. This in turn will help establish trust and confidence in test results among government authorities, airlines, transport services operators and other stakeholders in the transport sector across the continent.

 

As of 7th August, Zimbabwe has initiated the Trusted Travel Initiative Platform for travellers arriving into and departing from Zimbabwe. Whilst the platform is being initiated and implemented there will be lenience given to those who have not utilised the platform as long as they have the relevant and required documentation in order for entering the country.

 

Currently only vaccinated travellers above the age of 18 years old are able to cross the land borders of Kazangula Border Post with Botswana, and Victoria Falls Bridge with Livingstone. All travellers crossing land borders, including children aged 5 to 18 years of age, are required to hold a valid PCR negative certificate issued within 48 hours of departure for Zimbabwe.

 

Currently all travellers arriving through Zimbabwe's major airports, including children aged 5 to 18 years of age, are required to hold a valid PCR negative certificate issued within 48 hours of departure for Zimbabwe