POPULATION MOBILITY MAPPING MUTARE DISTRICT, ZIMBABWE JANUARY 2021

INTRODUCTION The lockdown restrictions in Zimbabwe The Forbes Border Post is the main due to COVID-19 has drastically reduced crossing point between Zimbabwe and the number of cross border movements. Mozambique. On the Mozambiquan side, On average, the numbers crossing through the border is located in Machipanda. This the Mutare main border post has dropped border post is mostly characterised with from 400 to 250 persons a day. As of 2 freight traffic from the port city of Beira in February 2021, Zimbabwe had 33,548 Mozambique; however, mobility trends confirmed cases of COVID-19, including are also characterized by cross border 26,794 recoveries and 1,254 deaths. As traders who frequent the town to Chimoio part of the response to the COVID-19 and Manica for basic goods such as food pandemic in Zimbabwe, the Ministry of and cheap second-hand clothing. Located Health in collaboration with its partners in 263 km to the East of the capital of health recognized a need to understand Zimbabwe, Forbes border post in Mutare the impact mobility within and across is one of the busiest borders in Zimbabwe. borders can potentially have on controlling the spread of the virus. To Mutare, which is the border city where the support these activities, the International Forbes border post is located, was founded Organization for Migration (IOM) is in 1897 as a fort, about 8 km from the working closely with the local government border with Mozambique, and is just 290 of Zimbabwe, Ministry of Health, and the km from the Mozambican port of Beira, Immigration Department to support the earning Mutare the title of "Zimbabwe's government of Zimbabwe and other key Gateway to the Sea". It is sometimes also partners with regards to understanding called "Gateway to the Eastern Highlands". migration flows, as well as to respond to Many Zimbabwean locals refer to it as the outbreak in a way that is sensitive to 'Kumakomoyo' (place of many current and emerging migration and mountains). Forbes Border Post is situated mobility realities in multiple regions in about 8 km from Mutare town east of Zimbabwe. Mutare and a getaway to the Beira corridor and is between Zimbabwe and

IOM offering COVID-19 prevention services at Forbes PoE © IOM 2021

Mozambique, bordering the Machipanda for public health interventions in times border on the Mozambique side. of public health emergency. ▪ Recommend immediate public health Mapping in Mutare was to complement the interventions for the identified Government of Zimbabwe’s National prioritized congregation areas and Preparedness and Response plan for ports of entry. COVID-19 by providing the Government, ▪ Assess the feasibility of implementing communities, and humanitarian partners Flow Monitoring and recommend with information on population mobility locations of Flow Monitoring Points for and cross-border movements. Population the purpose of disease surveillance, Mobility Mapping (PMM) aims to inform interventions strengthening health public health interventions through the system along mobility corridors and analysis of the dynamics and provide information on cross border characteristics of population mobility. mobility trends to support Flow monitoring aims to derive Government’s evidence-based quantitative estimates of the flow of migration policy development. individuals through specific locations and to collect information about the profiles, A virtual Participatory Mapping Exercise intentions and needs of the people moving. (PME) was convened on the 21st of January More broadly, it aimed to enhance where key stakeholders from the Mutare prevention, detection, and response to the district committee were present. For this spread of infectious diseases through an exercise, key stakeholders were selected improved understanding of prevailing from the district and local councillors who human mobility patterns in Zimbabwe and oversee the community and responsible Plumtree Border districts. for day-to-day operations in the community. Participants represented the The specific objectives of this exercise formal and informal, health and non- were to: health sectors, including local authorities, community leaders. Local councillors also ▪ Identify the points of entry and assisted in mapping illegal entry points in congregation areas within Mutare and Mutare which will help in tracking at its borders with neighboring irregular and regular migrants. Key countries. stakeholders from government also ▪ Based on estimations on volume of participated in the one-day workshop to flows and other criteria, provide a list ensure that flow monitoring points are of specific points of entry and selected based with their experience in congregation areas that are prioritized dealing with migrants and flow of people.

COVID-19 screening at Forbes border post © IOM 2021 IOM distributing menstrual hygiene kit to returnee migrants © IOM 2021

The mapping exercise was based on their President, IOM enumerators and local understanding of the nearby countries authorities took part in the workshop. The such as Mozambique, Malawi, DRC and connections between travellers and South Africa and local population stationary communities in the epicentre, movement dynamics in the country. main towns, along mobility pathways were examined. Points of interest were The meeting was conducted in two phases. allocated into three categories: Points of First, IOM gave an overview presentation Congregation of travellers (where internal of Population Mobility Mapping (PMM) mobility is experienced such as markets, and Flow Monitoring (FM) to participants. churches, universities, playgrounds), The second phase was on discussions on Points of Entry (PoEs) (border crossings); general cross border movements and and major travelling routes connecting regional migration routes in relation to these Points of Entries and the Points of Forbes as the entry/exit point, Congregations. These points were identification of points of entry and prioritized based on significant volume of identification of points of congregation. mobility and strong connections to areas The Mutare city health department gave reporting Covid-19 cases. A total of 3 an epidemiological update during the points were identified as Flow Monitoring session. Following an overview of flow Points (FMPs), of which 1 priority point monitoring, data collection, target areas, (the main border post) was selected for and risk of communication emphasizing immediate response actions and an IOM transmission of COVID 19 and other health tent had been pitched there for support in related issues, key informants were then terms of Covid-19 screening; surveillance, encouraged to relate the information hand washing, risk communication and shared with situations in their daily lives community engagement. and contribute their knowledge of their communities by identifying and locating Characteristics of population mobility PoEs, axes of mobility (routes) and Points (migration routes) of Congregation (PoCs), to identify places Long distance population flows were where travellers could interact with each identified from neighbouring countries other and/or the local community. Among (Mozambique) via Mutare to major towns the key points, participants selected such as Bulawayo, Gweru and Harare (the priority sites for the implementation of capital). High population mobility was public health measures and population noted through the following axes: mobility patterns and dynamics were then characterized. (1) Beira-Mutare-Harare (2) Bulawayo-Mutare- Beira FINDINGS A total of 23 participants (17 male, 6 female) drawn from the Mutare District Development Committee, Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT), Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Immigration, Ministry of Health, Office of

During the online exercise, participants identified routes of mobility and mobility patterns observed in Mutare district. The information gathered from the key informants during the exercise include the main axes of mobility, the characteristics of this mobility and the main origin and destination of travellers. Mozambique to Botswana, Mozambique to Zimbabwe and Mozambique to Zambia are three key mobility routes identified. Axes of mobility IOM Staff utilizing hand washing station at Forbes PoE © IOM 2021 One main mobility route traversing Mutare was identified during the exercise: (2i) Beitbridge-Mutare-Beira (2ii) Beira–Mutare-Masvingo Route A3: The main route that connects Mozambique to Zimbabwe through the Mutare is an important transit point for Forbes official Border post. This route is long distance travellers, especially traders used by commercial vehicles, buses and to access neighbouring towns (Harare, pedestrians travelling to and from Masvingo, Bulawayo). Traders of Zimbabwe. This route connects to N6 in commercial goods, majority of whom Mozambique which passes through come from and reside in Manicaland, Manica and proceeds to Beira. On the Harare and Masvingo provinces transit to Zimbabwean side, the route proceeds to Mutare before heading to Chimoio or Harare on the A3. Truck drivers, small Beira, resulting in long distance movement traders and regular migrants from across multiple cities and towns with Zimbabwe and Mozambique are listed as interactions with migrants. the most common groups using the crossing point. The local routes pass The state of business in Mutare attracts through local towns such as Bulawayo and daily travellers coming from Harare, Gweru. Masvingo, Bulawayo and near-the-border communities as well as nearby semi and Trucks traveling along these axes, from rural communities such as Mutare rural. Zimbabwe to Mozambique stop and Traders include Mozambiquans, congregate for a variety of reasons Malawians and Zimbabweans. including rest, sleep, meals and for administrative reasons at Forbes PoE. A At least 5 isolation centres are present in truck driver will take two days to travel Mutare to curb the spread of COVID-19 from Mutare all the way to Mozambique, and the community at large takes meaning there are many sites for stoppage precautionary measures against the and congregation along those mobility spread of COVID-19 in Mutare. corridors. Also, the cross border traders usually board buses from Mutare which ferry them to their various destination in Regional Mobility Routes Zimbabwe.

Informal transport providers waiting to ferry returnee migrants near Forbes PoE © IOM 2021 points were visited as well. At the border post, there are functional water sources, ablution facilities, medical facilities, and security forces. Before COVID-19, the Points of entryIOM offering COVID-19 prevention border post attracted at least 400 migrants During the onlineservices at session, Forbes Po E participants © IOM 2021 (truck drivers, deportees, returnees, and identified using their knowledge all known travellers) per day. COVID-19 official and unofficial Points of Entries precautionary measures are in full force at (PoEs), estimated daily cross-border the border post where many hand washing movements, characteristics, and those facilities and an automated sanitizing door selected for prioritized public health have been installed at the border as well as interventions. awareness raising banners and posters.

Participants identified a total of 3 official It was recorded throughout the exercise and unofficial PoEs in Mutare urban that nearly all unofficial PoEs were small district (1 official, 2 unofficial), and further military posts along the frontiers with selected only 1 to be prioritized for either Zimbabwe or Mozambique, such as additional public health measures based the Mary Mount PoE, with the existing on estimated daily flows of traffic across road access and infrastructure making these points. While the scope of the them a convenient point of unofficial cross exercise was for Mutare district, 5 other border flows by local populations. From points of entries were identified by the the selected PoE prioritized for additional stakeholders in the province. public health interventions, current daily cross border flows have been estimated to The main point of entry and exit in Mutare range between 50 and per day. is the Forbes border post. This is a point which attracts large volumes of people Emerging Social Issues from the both local and foreigners. Due to COVID-19 Unofficial Points of Entry constraints, Participatory Mapping According to various submissions and site Exercise (PME) participants could not visit observations, the unofficial points of entry the official point of entry and no unofficial Points of entry Name Category Estimated Estimated Details daily traffic daily traffic before during COVID-19 COVID-19 Forbes Official 400 250 Border • Screening and handwashing stations Post • Most migrants are commercial truck drivers. Unofficial Unofficial 150 10 crossings • No screening or handwashing stations. near main Medical screening at Forbes PoE © IOM 2021 PoE

have been in irregularly. Another health hazard is the existence for unclean water that irregular migrants decades and have must cross through in order to traverse created an between Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The informal economy unofficial points of entry were not part of for some of the the local authority development plans locals in Mutare leading to lack of basic public health district. In the facilities which include safe water sources, advent of the ablution facilities and waste disposal COVID-19, there facilities. has been limited movements at the unofficial PoEs Environmental Hazards Emerging from and consequently Unofficial Points of Entry hunger and The unofficial points of entry pass through poverty. The small rivers and streams. There is no representatives from local communities waste management at the unofficial PoEs narrated also how before the COVID-19 and most of the littered plastics are just induced lockdown, children moved across swept away by the wind or rainwater, the informal points from Mozambique to causing a lot of damage to the environment attend school in Zimbabwe. and animals. People who are downstream these unofficial points of entry are also at Health Hazards Emerging from risk of drinking contaminated water. Unofficial Points of Entry Participants from the district committee Points of interest/congregation stressed that there are no measures to The following points of congregation were detect and control infectious disease identified during the online session: bus transmission at the unofficial points of stations, health centres, markets, shopping entry between Zimbabwe and facilities in the CBD, schools, churches, Mozambique thus COVID-19 transmission lodges, bar-restaurants and taxi ranks. risk is high. There are no health services, Flow Monitoring Points (FMPs) were water sources, sanitation facilities, PPE, identified at the following 5 locations: COVID-19 screening and referral mechanisms for those who cross Taxi Rank

Just outside the Forbes border post, there The bus stations that are in the Central is taxi rank where travellers from Business District (CBD) attract intercity Mozambique board their transport to travellers, vendors, and other local Mutare town and further catch their buses persons in the community. Most travellers to respective destination. This Station also will be transiting Mutare to other cities serves for dropping off travellers from such as Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, and town and various nearby communities Beitbridge. There are no functional who want to cross the border. There are ablution facilities at the bus station as vendors at the rank who provide services most of them are not maintained and to these travellers yet there are no dilapidated. There are also other bus handwashing facilities at the rank. stations in the residential locations of Mutare city which do not have hand The taxi rank is less than a kilometre away washing stations. The bus stations can from the border which means almost all attract over 1,000 migrants and numerous travellers using public transportation pass buses from major cities such as Harare. through this station. The participants However, during the COVID-19 lockdown, indicated that people at the taxi rank do intercity travel is heavily restricted, and not always consider the COVID-19 the number of travellers has reduced to precautionary measures hence posing a less than 100 per day. The absence of potential risk to the community of Mutare handwashing facilities poses a high risk to district and travellers. The taxi rank the community hence there is a need for

Points of interest/congregation Location Estimated Distance to Details Number nearest Stopping health facility Border Post 200/daily >5 km • The station is outside the border post and less Rank than a km from the border. This is where people board taxis to the town and dropped when coming to the border. • No screening or handwashing stations. Bus station <2 km • There are 5 major bus stations in Mutare CBD. 1000/daily • These are other bus stations namely Sakubva, Penhalonga that also host large numbers of people to different destinations. • Buses depart to Bulawayo, Gweru, Harare, South Africa and Mutare district rural throughout the day. • No screening or handwashing stations. CBD <1 km • This shopping centre includes nightclubs, bars, 5000/daily post office, business centre, food courts, grocery shops and government offices. • Handwashing stations present in almost each shop. together with the border were prioritized immediate response action. as a single FMP. Central Business District (CBD) Bus stations Most shops are located less than 5km away from the district hospital. There are food

courts, bars, night clubs, grocery shops, a communities and points of entry. Specific vegetable market and vendors in the CBD. recommendations based on mapping A lot of handwashing facilities were results include: reported to be present at almost all the entrance of every shop and people • Strengthen surveillance along the entering had face masks. Mutare is a big pathways through POE/POCs: town with a lot of activities within and • Official PoEs: establishment of official outside the CBD. PoEs in high mobility unofficial PoEs. • Reinforce Infection Prevention and The workshop identified the following Control (IPC) and risk communication congregation points connected to the with community engagement plans identified points of entry and prioritized and strategies that follow bottom-up for public health interventions: and decentralised approaches, putting Marketplaces at Forbes border post, communities first for the planning and business centre at Forbes border post, fuel roll-out of activities. and convenience centre outside Forbes • Provide a greater level of mental health Border post, and taxi rank along and psychosocial support to travellers Flamingo Road close to Mary Mount and for combatting COVID-19 associated Meikles Park (TM Taxi rank) in the CBD. stigmatisation, including the correct training in dealing with positive COVID-19 cases. Conclusion and • Provide handwashing facilities to the recommendations stations next to screening points where Population Mobility Mapping (PMM) was there is none. conducted to provide key and timely • Distribution of face masks and information on priority high mobility sanitisers to border workers where corridors and vulnerable areas to be possible. considered in the current COVID-19 response. Data gathered has allowed the Government of Zimbabwe, Ministry of Health and Child Care Protection, IOM and other public health and humanitarian partners on the ground to better understand population mobility trends in the region and their link to transmission risks, and response vulnerabilities of

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