POPULATION MOBILITY MAPPING PLUMTREE DISTRICT, ZIMBABWE DECEMBER 2020 INTRODUCTION

The lockdown restrictions in Zimbabwe People travelling from South Africa’s due to COVID-19 has drastically reduced Mafikeng also pass through this border. the number of cross border movements. Mangwe district holds a particular As of 10 December 2020, Zimbabwe had significance for a greater understanding 11,081 confirmed cases, including 9,253 of mobility trends and migration recoveries and 305 deaths. As part of the practices. Located 542 km to the West of response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the capital of Zimbabwe. On average, the Zimbabwe, the Ministry of Health in numbers crossing through the Plumtree collaboration with its partners in health main border post has dropped from 5,500 recognized a need to understand the to 500 persons a day due to COVID-19. impact mobility within and across borders can potentially have on Plumtree Town is usually referred to as controlling the spread of the virus. To “ku Titji” in Kalanga which means a support these activities, the International railway station. Its development can be Organization for Migration (IOM) is drawn back to 1897 when it was still working closely with the local operating as a railway station in the government of Zimbabwe, Ministry of region when the Plumtree- Health, and the Immigration Department railway line was still under construction. to support the government of Zimbabwe Rapidly developed as an alternative rail and other key partners with regards to route to suppliers between Bulawayo, understanding migration flows, as well as and South Africa, the town is to respond to the outbreak in a way that also known as an economic trading is sensitive to current and emerging hub/centre for rural Bulilima and rural migration and mobility realities in Mangwe districts. multiple regions in Zimbabwe. The aim of the Population Mobility Plumtree Border Post is the main crossing Mapping in Plumtree was to complement point between Zimbabwe and Botswana. the Government of Zimbabwe’s National

Participants identifying key mobility routes in the region © IOM 2021 Preparedness and Response plan for COVID-19 by providing the Government, communities, and humanitarian partners with information on population mobility and cross-border movements. Population Mobility Mapping (PMM) aims to inform public health interventions through the analysis of the dynamics and characteristics of population mobility. Flow monitoring aims to derive quantitative estimates of the flow of individuals through specific locations and to collect information about the profiles, intentions and needs of the people on the mobility trends to support Government’s move. More broadly, it aimed to enhance evidence-based migration policy prevention, detection, and response to the development. spread of infectious diseases through an improved understanding of prevailing A Participatory Mapping Exercise (PME) human mobility patterns in Zimbabwe was convened from the 8th to the 10th of and Plumtree border districts. December in Plumtree. For this exercise, key stakeholders were selected from the The specific objectives of this exercise Mangwe district committee and local were to: councilors who oversee the community and are responsible for day-to-day ▪ Identify the points of entry and operations in the community. Participants congregation areas within Plumtree represented the formal and informal, and at its borders with neighboring health and non-health sectors, including countries. local authorities, and community leaders. ▪ Based on estimations on volume of Local councilors also assisted in mapping flows and other criteria, provide a list Points of Entry (PoE) in Plumtree which of specific points of entry and help in tracking irregular and regular congregation areas that are prioritized migrants. Key stakeholders from for public health interventions in government also participated in the one- times of public health emergency. day workshop to ensure that Flow ▪ Recommend immediate public health Monitoring Points (FMP) are selected interventions for the identified based with their experience in dealing prioritized congregation areas and with migrants and flow of people. The ports of entry. mapping exercise was based on their ▪ Assess the feasibility of implementing understanding of nearby countries such Flow Monitoring and recommend as Botswana, Malawi, DRC and South locations of Flow Monitoring Points for Africa and local population movement the purpose of disease surveillance, dynamics in the country. interventions strengthening health system along mobility corridors and provide information on cross border Data collection near Plumtree border post © IOM 2021

The exercise was being chaired by the ▪ Verification of the information Mangwe District Development collected during the exercise and Coordinator. The Ministry of Health gave direct observations on site. an update on the epidemiological ▪ Collection of any additional situation in Plumtree at the opening of the information for the prioritization of session. Following an overview of flow FMPs. monitoring, data collection, target areas, and risk of communication emphasizing transmission of COVID 19 and other FINDINGS health related issues, key informants Sixteen key informants took part in the were then encouraged to relate the mapping exercise in Plumtree. The information shared with situations in connections between travellers and their daily lives and contribute their stationary communities in the epicenter knowledge of their communities by and main town along mobility pathways identifying and locating PoEs, axes of were examined. Points of interest were mobility (routes) and Points of allocated into three categories: Points of Congregation (PoCs) on maps, to identify Congregation of travelers (where internal places where travellers could interact mobility is experienced such as markets, with other travellers and/or the local churches, universities, playgrounds), community. Points of Entry (PoEs) (border crossings); and major travelling routes connecting Among the key points, participants these Points of Entries and the Points of selected priority sites for the Congregations. implementation of public health measures, Flow Monitoring activities, Points were prioritized based on population mobility patterns and significant volume of mobility and strong dynamics were then characterized. The connections to areas reporting COVID-19 exercise was followed by an assessment cases. A total of 4 points were identified of prioritized sites in the field with the as Flow Monitoring Points, of which 1 following objectives: priority point (the main border post) was selected for immediate response actions ▪ Collect GPS coordinates of the sites and an IOM tent had been erected there identified during the exercise to for support in terms of COVID-19 develop the final map. screening, surveillance, hand washing, risk communication and community engagement. Regional Mobility Characteristics of population mobility routes (migration routes) The first Long distance population flows were theme identified from the neighboring countries identified via Plumtree to major towns such as routes of Bulawayo, Gweru and Harare (the mobility and capital). The following high population mobility mobility routes were noted through two patterns axes: observed in Mangwe (1) -Plumtree-Bulawayo district. The (2)Harare-Gweru-Bulawayo-Plumtree- information gathered (3) Beitbridge-Plumtree-Botswana during the (4) DRC–Plumtree-South Africa exercise include the Plumtree is an important transit point for main axes of COVID-19 messaging at Plumtree border post © IOM 2021 long distance travelers, especially traders mobility, the to access neighboring towns (Bulawayo, characteristics of this mobility and the Gweru, Harare). Traders of commercial main origin and destination of travellers. goods, the majority of whom are from Matabeleland South province, to be Axes of mobility specific, transit in Plumtree before One main mobility route traversing heading to Francistown or Gaborone (two Plumtree was identified during the cities in Botswana) resulting in long exercise: distance movement across multiple countries with interactions with migrants. Route A7: The main route that connects Botswana to Zimbabwe through the The state of business in Plumtree attracts Plumtree official Border post. This route daily travellers from Botswana includes commercial vehicles, buses and (Francistown, Mosetse, Sebina and near- pedestrians travelling to Zimbabwe. This the-border communities) as well as route connects to A1 in Botswana and nearby semi-rural and rural communities proceeds to Francistown. On the such as Bulilima and Mangwe rural. Zimbabwean side, the route proceeds to Traders include Batswana, South Africans Bulawayo and to Harare as route A5. and Zimbabweans. Various trades such as Small traders and irregular migrants from vegetables markets, are also popular in Botswana and South Africa are listed as Plumtree, attracting the same the most common groups using the communities mentioned above. irregular crossing point. The local routes More than 6 isolation centres are present pass through local towns such as in Plumtree to curb the spread of COVID- Bulawayo, Gweru and Harare. 19 and the community at large takes precautionary measures against COVID- 19.

IOM staff collecting information in Plumtree © IOM 2021

Participants identified a total of 10 official Travellers using this axe, from Zimbabwe and unofficial PoEs in Zimbabwe’s West to Botswana or South Africa stop and region (1 official, 9 unofficial), and further congregate for a variety of reasons selected only 1 (Plumtree Border Post) to including rest, sleep, meals and for be prioritized for additional public health administrative reasons. Also, the cross measures based on estimated daily flows borders usually board buses in Plumtree of traffic across these points. which ferry them to their various destinations with their goods from The Ramokgwebana river separates the Plumtree. two countries, however family members can be found on either side of the border. Points of entry It was the general consensus by The second session of the exercise used participants that whilst the official PoE participants knowledge to identify all had witnessed a drop in cross-border known official and unofficial Points of flows due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Entries (PoEs), estimated daily cross- overall number of cross border border movements, characteristics, and movements at all unofficial PoEs had also those selected for prioritized public dropped drastically. However, with the health interventions. COVID-19 lockdown measures, many Points of entry Name Category Estimated daily Estimated daily Details traffic before traffic during COVID-19 COVID-19 Plumtree Border Official 2000 300 • The border post Post receives mainly commercial truck drivers and day traders. • Screening and handwashing stations Unofficial Unofficial 400 20 • There are multiple crossings near unofficial crossings. main PoE In terms of numbers, Mpoeng and Nxele are the two unofficial crossings borders with the highest number of crossings. • No screening or handwashing stations. people are resorting to using unofficial screening mechanisms, no sanitation, lack border crossing points. of water sources and lack of personal protection equipment (PPE) including The main centre of congregation in masks. The presence of irregular migrants Plumtree is the formal border post. This is also means that COVID-19 preventative a point which attracts large volumes of measures and other health services may people both local and foreigners. Due to not be available for such populations, time constraints, PME participants only including COVID-19 screening and visited the official point of entry and no referral mechanisms. The unofficial points unofficial points were visited. The local of entry were not part of the local Plumtree health clinic is located 1 km authority development plans and there is from the border post. At the border post, a lack of basic public health facilities there are functional water sources, which include safe water sources, ablution facilities, medical facilities and ablution facilities and waste disposal security forces. Before COVID-19, the facilities. This poses a serious health risk border post attracted at least 2,000 for COVID-19 transmission as well as migrants (truck drivers, deportees, other diseases with epidemic potential returnees and travellers) per day. COVID- including cholera, typhoid, etc. 19 precautionary measures are in full force at the border post with multiple hand washing facilities available and an Points of interest/congregation automated sanitizing booth which wasn’t Points of Congregation identified in the functional at the time of assessment. town and territory of Mangwe included: bus stations, health centers, markets, Health Hazards Emerging from shopping centres, schools, churches, Unofficial Points of Entry lodges, bar-restaurants, road junctions/ There are high chances that the activities bifurcations, playgrounds, government at the informal ports of entry and nearby offices and border posts. Five flow congregation areas may increase the monitoring points were identified: cross-border COVID-19 infections between Zimbabwe and Botswana. The factors that contribute to increased COVID-19 transmission within unofficial points of entry include lack of COVID-19

PMM Participants mapping FMPs in Plumtree © IOM 2021 Taxi Rank taxi rank do not consider COVID-19 Just outside the prevention measures hence posing a Plumtree border post, risk to the community of Mangwe and there is a taxi rank Bulilima district and the travellers. The located where taxi rank was prioritized as a flow travellers from monitoring point. Botswana board their transport to Plumtree Bus stations town and other cities. The two bus terminuses assessed attract This Station also intercity travellers from Harare, serves for dropping Bulawayo, Gweru and Francistown in off travellers from Botswana, vendors and other local town and various persons just roaming around. There is nearby communities only one functional ablution facility at who want to cross the each bus station which are less than 1 km border. There are apart and are all close to the town clinic. vendors at the rank There is no hand washing station at the who provide services bus station and per day, the bus station these travellers, and can attract +/-1,000 migrants and at least there are no 10 buses from major cities such as handwashing Bulawayo. During the lockdown period, facilities at the rank. the numbers had dropped to 100 per day Handwashing station at Plumtree border post © IOM 2021 since intercity movement had been The taxi rank is found restricted. The absence of handwashing less than a kilometer from the border facilities poses a high risk to the which means almost all travellers pass community hence there is a need for through this station. The PME immediate response action. These bus participants observed that people at the stations were each selected as a flow

Points of interest/congregation Location Estimated Distance to Details Number nearest health Stopping facility Border Post Rank 2000/daily <0.5 km • The station is outside the border post and less 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 <0.5 km • There are 2 bus stations. 1000/daily • These bus stations are the main bus stations in the town, located less that a kilometre apart. • Buses depart to Bulawayo, Gweru, Harare, Bulilima and Mangwe rurals throughout the day. • No screening or handwashing stations. Shopping centre <0.5 km • This shopping centre includes nightclubs, bars, 800/daily post office, business centre, food courts, grocery shops and government offices. • Handwashing stations present in almost each shop. monitoring point. of entry. Specific recommendations based on the mapping results include: Shopping Centre • Strengthen surveillance along the The shops are located less than a pathways through POE/POCs and kilometre metres away from the district reinforce community-based hospital. There are food courts, bars, surveillance. night clubs, grocery shops, vegetable • Reinforce Infection Prevention and market and vendors at the shopping Control (IPC) and risk centre. A lot of handwashing facilities communication with community were observed at almost every shop engagement plans and strategies entrance and people entering the shops that follow bottom-up and had their face masks. The shopping centre decentralised approaches, putting is close to the bus stations and attracts at communities first for the planning least 700 people a day. Plumtree is a small and roll-out of activities. town with almost all activities in the same • Provide a greater level of mental location at the shopping centre. The health and psychosocial support to shopping centre was selected as a flow travellers for combatting COVID- monitoring point due to the large volume 19 associated stigmatisation, of people it attracts and the various including the correct training in activities that takes place at the site. dealing with positive COVID-19 cases. • Provide handwashing facilities to Conclusion and the stations next to screening recommendations points where there is none. Population Mobility Mapping (PMM) was • Distribution of face masks and conducted to provide key and timely sanitisers to border workers. information on priority high mobility corridors and vulnerable areas to be considered in the current COVID-19 response. Data gathered has allowed the Government of Zimbabwe, Ministry of Health and Child Care, 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 vulnerabilities of communities and points

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