Following an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases and deaths President Emmerson Mnangagwa has hinted that Government could scale up preventive and containment measures.

Zimbabweans are now in anticipation of the almost inevitable adjustments.
“Although there is a visible spike in the number of positive cases, largely due to returnees, we shall continue to strengthen our preventive measures as well as our testing, and contact tracing capacity.

“The recent rapid spike of infections requires that we make another review of the Covid-19 lockdown measures,’’ said the President.

Zimbabweans have expressed mixed views about the statement, with some saying it is key to make sure that lives are saved and monitoring must not be overlooked because there is some level of complacency among the public during the current Level 2 lockdown, which might largely work against the nation in the near future.

Zimbabwe imposed a total lockdown on March 31 and has been gradually lifting restrictions over the past few months.

In a survey in most high density areas of the Capital, this writer found that most people were going about their busines as usual without taking into consideration recommendations such as wearing of masks (which is currently mandatory), social distancing and hygiene as most illegal selling points are now operational especially during night as people try to put bread on the table.

A number of citizens told Inside Business that they no longer fear for the virus as much as they fear going hungry.

There is however a general consensus that laws must be tightened so that people stay safe.

“We have been concerned about the level of traffic coming into town in the past few weeks especially after the review on the carrying capacity of the ZUPCO buses which in my view was not really a good move.

“The police seem to have relaxed and removed certain check points making it very easy for people to move around in the capital without good reason.

“Covid-19 is still with us and people must be cautious because the world over we are not yet past this phase as Zimbabwe”, said Leanmore Matiza.

Illegal vending is also a growing concern, especially in the high density areas as it had already become a new normal for most people due to high levels of unemployment.

Informal trading activities are currently very high in areas like Mbare, Budiriro and Chitungwiza as desperate people defy lockdown regulations.

“It seemed that government had done well by quarantining those coming from other countries so that we don’t have more infections, but recent developments that have seen an increase in local infections are worrying us.

“But in my view I strongly think that is an indicator of an error at the border control, there are people I want to believe are border jumping and placing the nation at risk,” another Harare resident Taurai Mutendi.

“On a daily basis, on social media we are seeing pictures of people crossing the Limpopo from South Africa. Government must investigate this because those people are getting straight into communities without being quarantined or being tested.”

He added that cross-border activities should be well-monitored, adding that truck drivers remain a potent risk because they are always on the move and do not typically go for re-testing.

“Truck drivers are a huge risk because they are the chief smugglers of people into the country either we like it or not. They are the major transporters along the highways as there are no sufficient buses to move people from point A to point B,” he said.

Zimbabwe has so far recorded over 900 cases of the Covid-19 after recording its first case in February this year.

According to World Health Organization figures over 12,6 million have been infected globally.

However, the general citizenry have also called on the government to put in place policies and conditions that will make the informal sector functional and not suffocate it as it is the major contributor to the economy.

Thabani Rusere, a vendor at the Vegetable market in Mbare highlighted the need to have measures that will enable the economy to function.

“We are expectant of new measures from government but we are calling on them to also set them up in ways that do not suffocate the economy. People must be allowed to trade as we have followed most of the laid down conditions by the authorities.

“We then need more support interms of controlling the movement of people in and out the market place and have more selling time considering that most of the people come with fresh produce from as far as Mutoko.”

Rusere added that health matters are key and government should consider both ends of the coin because people also need to sustain their families under the current hyperinflationary conditions.