HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa banned ministers and civil servants from foreign travel on Wednesday, which he said was a response to the international outbreak of the new coronavirus.

Tourism minister Mangaliso Ndlovu and SMEs minister Sithembiso Nyoni were due to lead large delegations in the coming days on overseas trips, but those have been put on ice.

Zimbabwe has no confirmed case of the coronavirus known as Covid-19 which was first detected in China in December before it spread around the world. On Wednesday, the number of reported coronavirus cases worldwide stood at 92,943, the World Health Organisation said, with 3,160 people dead from the virus.

The virus has reached 81 countries and territories around the world, with South Korea, Iran and Italy emerging as hotspots outside China.

“I have now restricted travelling outside the country, in particular outside the continent. We will continue to urge our people to minimise the risk of exposure. For those in government, I have banned foreign travelling. I also appeal to Zimbabweans to minimise travelling outside the country,” Mnangagwa told a meeting of his ruling Zanu PF party in Harare.

Earlier on Tuesday, health minister Obadiah Moyo announced that Zimbabwe would require travellers from coronavirus hotspots to carry certificates proving that they had been screened for the disease.

Zimbabwe has so far ruled out evacuating its citizens from China.

Having asked employees to go on unpaid leave for up to a month at a time due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus that has led to flight cancellations around the world, international airline Emirates announced on Wednesday that it was reducing flight frequencies to Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa and many others African destinations.

The airline, which flies daily to Zimbabwe and Zambia from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, has suspended its Tuesday service.

Emirates has cancelled flights to Iran, Bahrain and to most of China because of the virus, and countries around the world have placed strict restrictions on entry of foreigners.

The airline has more resources than it needs as a result of cutting frequencies or cancelling flights to some destinations, said Chief Operating Officer Adel al-Redha.

“Considering the availability of additional resources and the fact that many employees want to utilise their leave, we have provided our employees the option to avail leave or apply for voluntary unpaid leave for up to one month at a time,” he said.