HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabweans battered by economic problems have flocked to Nigeria to visit faith healers and collect lucky charms, but their government is urging them to stay away because of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
Zimbabwe’s state-controlled Chronicle newspaper on Friday quoted Health Minister David Parirenyatwa as saying citizens of the southern African country should instead pray for good fortune at home.
The minister says a group of 50 Zimbabweans returned from Nigeria last week, and such a large group can jeopardize efforts to keep Ebola out of the country.
Nigerian preacher T.B. Joshua is particularly popular among some Zimbabweans.
The current Ebola outbreak in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria has killed more than 1,300 people, including five in Nigeria . No cases have been reported in southern Africa.
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