Paul Nyathi|PRESIDENT Mnangagwa will make a televised address to Zimbabweans on the country’s 40th Independence Day tomorrow in respect to the measures implemented by Government to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The day comes at a time when the country is under a 21-day national lockdown declared by the Government to contain the spread of Covid-19 that has claimed more than 130 000 lives globally while confirmed cases of the virus are almost at 2 million.

Prior to announcing the lockdown, President Mnangagwa postponed the holding the Independence Day celebration events whose main programme was scheduled for Bulawayo. The deputy chief secretary to the President and Cabinet, who is also Presidential spokesperson, Mr George Charamba, yesterday said in line with the Government measures, the President would make a televised address.

“The President will make a televised address to the nation on Independence Day in respect to the efforts to contain Covid-19. The address will be broadcast from State House so he will reach Zimbabweans through television and other media platforms,” said Mr Charamba.

Mnangagwa has been very dicey on the extension of the lockdown following disputed reports that he had extended the lockdown by a further two weeks.

He threatened a jail term of up to 20 years to the author of the statement, purporting to bear his signature, that said the lockdown to contain the coronavirus outbreak had been extended.

Mnangagwa, who was speaking at his farm after touring Gweru to check on lockdown compliance, told state broadcaster ZBC on Tuesday that the statement, which circulated on social media last week and was immediately denied by the government, was fake.

“That is absolutely nonsense, I have never made such a statement,” Mnangagwa said.

“If we catch this person, it must be exemplary and they must go in for at least at level 14, which is 20 years’ imprisonment. That, I think we need to demonstrate that we don’t want false news to be circulated.”

Mnangagwa however gave a hint that he will eventually extend the lockdown period.

“Primarily, what is most important is that we preserve lives because if we lose lives, we will never resurrect them but if we have problems with the economy, we can always reconstruct the economy and grow it again.”