The ban was lifted after high-level diplomatic intervention by Namibia, the daily newspaper The Namibian Sun reported on Thursday.

South Africa had banned the export of face masks and hand sanitiser as well as the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine.

A special permit was required for anyone wanting to sell face masks or alcohol-based hand sanitiser abroad.

The export ban was to be in place until South Africa lifted its Covid-19 state of disaster.

But Dr Bernhard Haufiku, the national coordinator of Namibia's coronavirus task force, told the newspaper that the minister of international relations in Namibia, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, held urgent talks on the issue with her South African counterpart, Naledi Pandor.

"Namibia is now excluded from these export restrictions. We just have to indicate what we need and South Africa will approve export permits,” Haufiku told the newspaper.

Meanwhile, The Namibian newspaper reported that there was an increasing number of Zambians who were still entering the country illegally, despite the closure of borders in order to contain the further spread of Covid-19.

Police spokesperson in the Zambezi region, inspector Kisco Sitali, told the newspaper that Zambians were crossing into the country through undesignated entry points, especially Chantuu and Stone City.

"Since the start of the state of emergency [last month] over 10 Zambians were arrested during our patrols and have been charged. They are detained in isolation. Another group on Sunday abandoned their containers filled with petrol at the service station as they fled the scene when they saw the police approaching," he told the daily.

Namibia had recorded 13 Covid-19 infections by Thursday, according to statistics reference website Worldometers. Three people have recovered from the virus, and no deaths have thus far been reported.


African News Agency