By LEAD President, Linda Masarira.
With the whole world fighting for victory over the COVID 19 pandemic Africa in general and Zimbabwe in particular have not been spared. It is in the recent times that Zimbabwe’s Covid statistics have been on the rise triggering different opinions among citizens with others suspecting that this is a government lie meant to shift citizens’ focus from bread and butter issues to a life threatening virus in the name of Corona Virus.
It is in light of this suspicion that as Labour Economists and Afrikan Democrats (LEAD), we have decided to look into the issue and realized how reckless this government has become in relation to human lives and Covid 19. Basic knowledge about Covid 19 tells us that suspects and confirmed cases need to be quarantined to manage spreading of the virus.
Looking into this issue with respect to our own Zimbabwe whose health sector is literally in the Intensive Care Unit, it’s shocking how the pandemic is treated in a very reluctant manner. Precedence has taught us through experience of other nations that this Covid period should be treated as war time wherein people have to unwittingly lock themselves indoors to ensure survival hence the LOCKDOWN practice.
The case of Zimbabwe is very worrying considering the manner and rate at which Potential Covid Carriers returning from foreign countries are being distributed throughout the provinces in the guise of quarantine. These returnees are being transported by ZUPCO buses thereby risking the lives of bus drivers and their families (hence society). One questions the rationale of transporting returnees from Beitbridge to Hwange or Muzarabani? Why not screen the at the point of entry.
Also worrying is that at the quarantine centers the Frontline staff is allowed to mix and mingle with the community. Another issue is the mixing returnees. Government is putting them at risk.
More so, this also creates a huge base of threat to the general populace as it makes it easy for the so-called escapees to run away from quarantine centers considering that they’ll be close to their homes.
Moreover, government needs to reconsider it’s position on allowing free return into the country through the basic ordinary passport protocol. The fact that the threat posed by the pandemic is still alive and well the borders must be tightened to manage the outbreak from within considering the health sector status of our nation.
Mambokadzi Linda Tsungirirai Masarira
LEAD President
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