Albert Matapo, Zimbabwe People Power Movement Leader has said the lockdown declared by ED Mnangagwa will hit the poor hardest.

EMMERSON Mnangagwa declared a 21day national lockdown in Zimbabwe with effect from Monday 30 March 2020 in a bid to slow the outbreak of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

In press conference, Mnangagwa announced that he will be deploying the security forces to enforce the 21-day the national lockdown on Friday night.

Below are some of the highlights from the President’s address about the 21-day national lockdown:

  • Only food markets to remain open, others to close
  • All public transport, except Zupco, is suspended. Social distancing is recommended in Zupco
  • Motorists seeking to refuel will not be allowed to leave their vehicle
  • Informal markets to be closed
  • Formal shops to open for 4 hours daily
  • Exemptions for sanitary wear, bottled water, bread, sugar, maize meal, pharmaceutical businesses
  • Millers have been directed by Command Centre to immediately stop supplying maize-meal in CBD forthwith. All deliveries to be made to RESIDENTIAL areas only.
  • Mass transport operations suspended, except for employees in essential services
  • Employers and staff to negotiate salary cuts for the duration of the lockdown
  • National command element of security deployed to complement civilian efforts
  • Funerals exempted but numbers should be less than 50
  • Only food stalls will be allowed to operate, none food stalls will be closed
  • Ministry Of Health and Child Care will work with the Ministry of Information during this period to update the nation
  • A toll-free hotline, 2019, has been set up
  • Govt is decentralising COVID19 testing services
  • The government will come down heavily on those unscrupulous businesses who seek to profiteer out of the situation.
  • Legal instruments being put in place to deal with and punish those who cause alarm and despondency on social media
  • Business encouraged to support employees
  • Act responsibly and take hygiene seriously