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The open defiance by kombis, pirate taxis, bars and nightclubs, and artists (particularly musicians) against Covid-19 regulations should not be viewed solely as case of rogue or criminal behaviour, but as a symptom of a much bigger problem involving the Government of Zimbabwe’s capacity to holistically address the plight of its citizens.
Commuter omnibus operators, and bar and nightclub owners are businesspeople that pay rentals and have other overheads, employees and pay taxes. Some of them need to service loans and ensure the businesses do not go under in order to protect their investments and continue to earn a living from their enterprises.
However, measures put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19 have made it impossible for these businesspeople to take care of not just their statutory obligations but employer responsibilities. In worst case scenarios, these businesspersons and artists cannot even fulfil their duties as breadwinners.
Government has offered no protections for these businesses. Promises have not been fulfilled as the money said to have been released from Treasury as cushioning allowances has not reached intended beneficiaries.
So instead of looking at kombi operators that are affixing metal screens to windows and windscreens or replacing windows with wooden boards as criminals, Government must introspect. They should ask themselves what they have done to protect these businesses? They should ask themselves if they have done enough to ensure that all citizens are protected not just from Covid-19 but poverty as well.
Surely, how are businessmen and women that invested so heavily in enterprises that are now being scapegoated for causing the rise of Covid-19 cases supposed to react when their dreams and livelihoods are being crushed while they watch?
To make matters worse, there are known bars and nightclubs that never shut down since March 30 when strict lockdown measures were put in place. These are pubs and restaurants for the affluent. Their owners are connected and well-known.
In fact, some enforcers of the law actually patronise these places.
When the rich and connected want to entertain themselves, they get their events cleared as private functions but those on the poorer side of Samora Machel Avenue do not get the same treatment.
Landlords still want their rentals paid on time but Government is mum on that issue. It appears that those charged with protecting citizens are not being truthful to themselves – they are only concentrating one side of Covid-19 measures and turning a blind eye to the rest.
We are not advocating for lawlessness. What we are saying is that the measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 cannot and should not be one-sided. Enforcement is good and we commend it, but let it not affect only a segment of society – it should affect all citizens.
Further, arrests use of force must not be the only tool that Government uses. From President Mnangagwa’s speeches when the lockdown started back in March – Government promised to employ a variety of ways to avoid a situation where the general citizenry would get too desperate and take matters into their own hands.
These measures included rent moratoriums and cushioning allowances. But rentals are actually going up and people are being evicted from their lodgings while several cases of disputes are before the courts – all because of the effects of the lockdown. Where is the Government in all this?
The Zimbabwean Government cannot just be a whip-wielding one, and not be able to shield its citizens from everything else. The general populace is getting desperate because of hunger as there is no work and no one to pay a living wage.
The festive season is upon us yet people cannot even afford decent meals.
Our message, rather challenge to President Mnangagwa and his Cabinet is for them to come up with and implement holistic measures that ensure that the kombi operator, artist, informal trader or bar owner feels no need to break the law.
Without such measures – this festive season will be a dog-eat-dog jungle where law enforcement will be unleashed on a populace fatigued by the lockdown, is hungry and agitated. The result will be messy – there will be running battles with no end in sight.
Further, those who can afford will simply bribe the law enforcers to look the other way and those that arrest the bribe takers will be bribed as well.
So, to avoid all this, Government has to accept that it does not have the capacity to protect its citizens from Covid-19 without beating them to a pulp. Cabinet must go back to the drawing board, and come up with tailormade measures that suit our situation. The one size fits all will not work.
Blanket measures only apply when resources are there to ensure everyone is protected not just from a disease but other elements as well. *Nhau/Indaba*
