A SAD SEASON!

• Govt mulls strict Covid enforcement on Xmas
• ‘Travel when necessary, avoid gatherings’
• ‘Embrace the new normal’

By Kundai Marunya

A spike in Covid-19 cases in Zimbabwe is threatening to put a damper on festivities associated with the Christmas holidays.
Top Government officials have told Nhau that there are plans for strict enforcement of already existing Covid-19 lockdown restrictions during the festive season.
This comes amid indications that Zimbabwe will only be able to take delivery of Covid-19 vaccines in 2021.
Yet, the country is grappling with a massive resurgence of the coronavirus, which has left the new tally of the pandemic at 10 839 recorded positive cases and 294 deaths.
Officials attribute the rise in cases to a behavioural shift that saw people not adhering to set rules, which include practicing social distancing, wearing face masks, regular washing of hands and sanitisation.
Even law enforcement officials seem relaxed on duty as they move around casually dangling their face masks below the chin while showing a reluctancy to enforce adherence at roadblocks.
Senior Government officials were also recently caught offside, partying without face masks at Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa’s birthday party.
Inadequate public transport has seen ZUPCO ditching social distancing to pack up their buses with standing passengers, while defiant pirate taxis and kombi operators have reintroduced their overloaded services.
In market spaces such as Mbare Musika, Highfield Market and mushrooming flea markets across the country, and at home industries such as Siyaso and Gazaland, rules are completely ignored with council officials focusing their energy on revenue collection.
Chief Co-ordinator of the national response to the Covid-19 pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Agnes Mahomva, said Government is going to strengthen existing regulations.
“I always ask people that if your grass is too long and you buy a lawnmower, and never use it, then realise you still have the same problem, will you buy a new lawnmower or will you use the one you have to cut your grass,” she said.
“We are still in lockdown but people have been reluctant in adhering to set guidelines which explains the recent spike in new infections.
“As Government we will continue to strengthen the existing regulations through increased training of health workers, community engagement and spreading the message of adherence. We encourage people to embrace the new normal.”
Though there are no hints on imposition of stricter guidelines such as restricting travel and gatherings Government, however, urges people to travel only when necessary.
“We know that people usually travel to various parts of the country and gather around during the festive season,” said Mahomva,
“We, however, urge people to travel only when necessary and avoid gatherings, when they can’t, adherence to guidelines should be exercised all the time.”
Though lenient on general members of the public, Government has been maintaining a tough stance on economic activities that are still illegal under lockdown restrictions.
These include operation of night clubs and beer halls, and operation of private public transport services on urban routes, while vendors are constantly chased away from areas where they operate from in most urban centres.
The defiance in these sectors is largely because people are seeking to earn a living.
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has called upon all African countries to adopt best practices, strategies, guidelines and recommendations to handle Covid-19 pandemic.
In an emergency response and preparedness meeting, the organisation urged countries to employ measures that balance between saving lives and minimising the impact of the pandemic on the economy and the social wellbeing of the citizens.
Africa CDC urged countries to strengthen surveillance systems to rapidly identify and isolate new cases as well as monitor trends to inform response efforts, generate additional evidence and science necessary for making informed decisions and reallocate resources to where they are most needed. Nhau/Indaba