AUTHORITIES in Mashonaland West are failing to enforce localised Covid-19 lockdown measures imposed on Hurungwe and Kariba, with people in the two districts going about their business as if there is no public health emergency.
NHAU MANGIRAZI
The two districts were declared hotspots after a spike in infections.
This comes as President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday night further tightened the lockdown in the districts, including Makonde, prohibiting any entry and exit.
Mnangagwa also imposed a 6pm to 6am curfew and reduced business operating hours to seven hours from 8am to 3pm, among a raft of other measures.
A survey conducted by this publication since Monday showed that informal traders and the bulk of residents are not abiding by the stipulation to stay indoors, citing economic challenges.
However, liqour stores and other beer outlets have been forced to close as police are raiding them.
Street vendors vowed to continue selling their wares, saying it was the only way they would be able to put food on the table.
‘‘There is no reason to justify myself to be at home as I have a family to feed at home. I can’t stay at home when my kids are hungry,’’ said Memory Chaita, a mother of three.
A street vendor who sells cellphone gadgets, Robert Museya (40), said the localised lockdown has not been effective.
‘‘Localised lockdown has not been effective here, people are going about their everyday lives,’’ he said.
The Vahombe Performing Arts street theatre duo of Samson Kabvura (34) nicknamed Mabhodhi and Wilbert Chimarizeni (36) nicknamed Penzura, who travelled from Harare to Karoi to sell their drama discs, said they have been hit hard by the lockdown.
‘‘We perform in the streets and can’t risk being at home even though the Covid-19 infections are rising. We are facing crisis both at home as we need to feed our families yet government through the Health ministry wants us to stay indoors. As artistes we have been hit hard as our clients are no longer stable to see us perform.”
It was also business as usual at Chikangwe old flea market, with the place crowded with buyers and sellers.
On Thursday, the farming town lost Engineer Oswell Mazvimbakupa (46) who succumbed to Covid 19.
In a statement the council said it was a sad loss for Karoi town, Hurungwe and nation at large.
“Mazvimbakupa will be remembered for his philanthropic work, commitment to family and community at large. He was a hard worker who thrived to see Karoi as a better town to live,’’ the statement read.
Mashonaland West acting provincial medical director Gift Masocha was in a meeting when contacted on Thursday and said he could not speak about the Covid-19 response.
Over 184 people, including 12 health officials at Karoi District Hospital, tested positive and are now in self-isolation.
Rural infections rise
Rural clinics in Hurungwe district have begun recording positive cases.
At Chitindiva rural clinic under Chief Chundu, four people tested positive amid revelations that one of the women had travelled from Guruve in Mashonaland Central province. Three people also tested positive in Mwami under Chief Kazangarare.
Both areas are in Hurungwe North constituency. In Zvimonja under Magunje constituency, two people tested positive on Tuesday.
In Karoi town, retail chain N. Richards was briefly closed for fumigation, after several workers tested positive.
OK Zimbabwe and Pick and Pay TM also had several of their workers testing positive. The workers are now in isolation. At Karoi District Hospital some community village workers tested positive.
Chaotic scenes
The NewsHawks observed chaotic scenes at Karoi District Hospital where health personnel were overwhelmed by mostly tobacco workers who had turned up for random testing.
It emerged that the hospital has run out of the new Covid-19 vaccination cards featuring new bar codes.
‘‘I only got a piece of paper with my details and other information and was stamped at the back but these ‘cards’ are just pieces of papers. Our government must be serious on health matters. We can’t blame nurses or doctors here as they will never foot the stationery bill for the public institution like the referral hospital,” said a civil servant who got his first vaccination jab.
Lockdown hotspot highlights
As of 16 June, Zimbabwe had 40 566 confirmed cases including 37 075 recoveries and 1640 deaths.
A total of 697 399 people have been vaccinated against Covid-19.
Hotspots
Besides Hurungwe, Kwekwe and Kariba that are under localised lockdown, other towns including Chinhoyi and Mhangura in Mashonaland West are now hotspots.
The Health ministry also added Chiredzi, Masvingo and some Bulawayo surburbs under the “hotspots” category.
In a move likely to affect the public transport sector in localised towns including Karoi and Kariba, the mass public transporter Zupco withdrew its services just as the government decreed the localised lockdown.
