Seke residents blast ‘uncompliant’ markets

Seke residents have expressed disquiet over failure to adhere to World Health Organisation (WHO) and Government regulations and prevention guidelines on Covid-19 at the main vegetable markets.
In a letter addressed to Manyame Rural District Council chief executive, Mrs Muguti, by Seke Rural Development Platform (SERDP) secretary-general Givemore Chipere, residents said council market places at Chikwanha and Jambanja were in a sorry state.
They said the operations were against WHO and Government guidelines on measures to curb the spread of Covid-19.
“Whist council should be commended for water and sanitisation as well as maintaining a better environment .. our observations have shown that main market places where Seke residents mingle amongst themselves and those from Chitungwiza municipality are clearly uncompliant to conditions needed to stem further spread of the virus,” Chipere said.
“For example, all these market places do not have footbath facilities at entry points and there is no sanitisation taking place. The design of market stalls and space for human movement makes it quite difficult for the maintenance of social distancing.
“At Jambanja, there is often an overflow of people outside existing structures and this is also the same at Chikwanha where some traders are now shunning the designated markets and operating outside,” he said.
Chipere said there is evident lack of Covid-19 awareness information around these market places, no proper wearing of masks, sanitisation and temperature checks.
“There is no monitoring or enforcement of Covid-19 regulations at these market-places,” he added.
Statistics show that on 10 January alone Seke had 21 active Covid-19 cases, whilst Chitungwiza which is next-door and has a huge bearing on the well-being of Seke, had 126 active cases including three deaths on same day. Nhau/Indaba