Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has imposed a 14-day mandatory quarantine of all travelers entering the southern African nation including returning residents, in a bid to halt the spread of the omicron variant.

"All returning residents and visitors have to undergo PCR testing, and will be quarantined at own cost, for days recommended by WHO, even if they present negative PCR test results from elsewhere," Mnangagwa said in televised address on the state broadcaster on Tuesday. 

Zimbabwe is yet to record a case of the omicron variant since its neighbor South Africa disclosed detection of the new variant on Nov. 25. 

The discovery of the new variant presents an "added risk, which compounds the burden we already face," Mnangagwa said.

Zimbabwe is among several countries from the southern African region facing travel bans by Western countries including the U.S. and U.K.. International airlines including Qatar and Emirates have also halted flights to the country.

(With input from agencies)