Daily News|THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and Harare municipal police officers engaged in running battles with vendors and scores of people who sought to defy the government’s call to stay at home as the country entered its second day of a 21-day lockdown aimed at curtailing the spread of the deadly coronavirus (Covid-19).

National police spokesperson Paul Nyathi yesterday confirmed that while many Zimbabweans took heed of the call to stay at home, there were others who had defied the call.

“Of concern, are some acts which have been handled by the police resulting in the arrest of 19 people for operating shebeens, a bar, public drinking and various traffic offences.

“In Highfield, at Lusaka produce market, 200 vendors tried to force their way into the market after pelting police officers with stones, but were later dispersed. In Chitungwiza, police dispersed people who had gathered at Unit H Shopping Centre. In the process, Luckson Rukainga, 28, was arrested for stoning a police vehicle,” Nyathi said.

Most of the businesses that had been listed as providing essential services, including food stores and supermarkets, closed early on the second day, while some did not open at all.

In downtown Harare, where it is usually a hive of activity, it was eerily quiet — with the wooden stalls that normally house vegetable vendors and flea market operators completely deserted.

Similarly, the Mbare Musika vegetable market and the popular Mupedzanhamo Flea Market in the capital were also deserted.

Only police and municipal police officers were seen patrolling almost every corner of the streets, ensuring people were not loitering for no apparent reason.

Scores of people had to be pushed out of the city centre by the police after failing to produce the relevant documents warranting them to be in the CBD.

 “We urge members of the public to continue complying with lockdown measures and to cooperate with police officers as the country strives to curb the spread of this deadly Covid-19 pandemic,” Nyathi said.

There was also no sign of business at most hotels, while banks also remained shut following the directive by the government.

An Epworth resident, Moses Makaka, who spoke to the Daily News, said while he appreciated the government’s directive for a lockdown, he was worried about hunger after failing to get money from an international money transfer agent.

“There was not enough time to prepare for the lockdown. My children who live outside the country sent me some money to use during the 21 days but the challenge is that I was unable to get the money, after the international money transfer agents were also shut down. Yes, we might contain the coronavirus but we might be killed by hunger. As for me, I do not know how I am going to survive throughout the lockdown period. I have nothing to eat save for this corn,” he said.

In Bulawayo, people took heed and stayed at home as the city remained empty as was the situation on the first day. Law enforcers remained in full force with their patrols in the central business district and shopping centres dotted around high-density suburbs.

The police had their roadblocks still mounted on many roads leading to the city centre where they sieved those who were getting into town.

Private vehicles were being blocked from carrying passengers while Zupco buses and kombis continued to carry people.

Police were also active in some supermarkets where they maintained social distance among shoppers as part of measures to control the spread of the disease.

This comes after Zimbabweans under the banner of the Citizens Initiative raised more than US$26 000 towards equipping health care workers in Zimbabwe’s second largest city.

Through online-based crowd funding platform campaign, GoFundMe, the initiative has raised US$26 022 and is targeting US$50 000 towards the cause.

Meanwhile, the Bulawayo business community is also working towards capacitating Thorngrove, Mater Dei and Ekusileni Hospitals which will be used as isolation centres for Covid-19.

The business community is sourcing 600 beds to equip several isolation and treatment centres in the city of Bulawayo.

In Mutare’s high density suburbs, sanity is beginning to dawn after a chaotic first day of the national lockdown which saw people avoiding the central business district, but continued to gather around bottle stores and shops as well as other social engagements.

Increased police patrol saw the disappearance of such gatherings with the Daily News crew witnessing cops decongesting a Zuva gas station demanding that only one person stay in a queue as they maintained social distance.

Police officers from Dangamvura Complex base were seen taking into their custody toddlers while parents queued for gas.