Covid-19: We are on our own

What a time to take an annual leave – just when things are spiralling out of control and events pointing to a health, economic and social crisis. A number of people are asking whether President Mnangagwa really needs to be on leave right now when the country requires leadership to steer it out of a health catastrophe or at least soften the blow from the second wave of Covid-19. Mnangagwa’s minions have simply put a blanket ban on most of life’s enabling systems.

Without the elected leader, confusion is evident, as Information Secretary Nick Mangwana went on Twitter to announce an impending lack of hospital facilities for Covid-19 patients while the acting president Kembo Mohadi denied there was any such shortage.

This is the same Mangwana who went on social media a few months ago announcing that the Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) was now capable of making ventilators. It still remains just a Tweet.

Had there been something tangible from HIT, this would be the time to shine and save lives as coronavirus infections are soaring and hospitalisations getting out of hand in the country.
“Let’s avoid speculation. Did you see that situation or you were told by
someone? Go and do enough research on that to see if what people are saying is true or not,” said Mohadi while addressing the media at his Munhumutapa offices in Harare.

The acting President had been asked about the ventilator shortages in the country and how Government planned to deal with the situation at public hospitals, which were getting overwhelmed. Mohadi’s sentiments simply confirmed a long held belief regarding Covid-19 in Zimbabwe; “we are on our own”.
There is a shortage of beds with ventilators at public hospitals while private hospitals are charging between US$3000 and US$5000 on admission for patients requiring ventilators.

Over the weekend social media was awash with pleas for assistance in accessing ventilators, or tips on fairly affordable health facilities.
Local entrepreneur Kuda Musasiwa, founder of Fresh In A Box, who is currently in ICU due to Covid-19, got a ventilator from a well-wisher, businessman Tawanda Nyambirai.

This was a clear sign that citizens need to practice extreme caution and adhere to preventive measures because their lives depend on it, literally.
When one gets sick, particularly from Covid-19, no one will come to their rescue, except for lucky ones like Kuda. So recklessness and complacency should be done away with immediately.

With the high costs of getting treatment, particularly for Covid-19, it is likely that if one gets sick they would have to find their own way out, Government will not be there. People should stop waiting on police or any other Government agency to enforce preventive measures, they protect themselves.

The lockdown measures commencing tomorrow will be hard on many people, especially without cushioning allowances or food aid to cater for the poor, but the best option is to stay healthy and live to fight another day. People should find creative ways to balance lives and livelihoods – in the end we are on our own. Nhau/Indaba