By Own Correspondent| Opposition MDC Alliance Vice President Tendai Biti has mocked the President Emmerson Mnangagwa administration saying they cannot wait for the lockdown to end as they have run out of money to continue functioning.

Biti accused government of imposing a lockdown without giving workers and the business sector enough time to prepare saying this forced most businesses to fail to pay their tax obligations.

“The regime unwisely imposed a lockdown from March 30 without giving workers and business time to organise. Most businesses did not pay statutory obligations like PAYE, VAT, QPD and NSSA on March 31. Regime is now broke. Treasury is empty. They can’t wait to reopen,” he tweeted.

The World Health Organisation has warned countries against prematurely ending lockdowns before putting in place adequate measures to contain the virus, a move that could be bad news to Zimbabwe if Biti’s remarks are anything to go by.

“Given that it’s foreseeable that there will be a two-week lockdown extension, we urge the authorities to base all decisions on data, science, experts and the experience of other countries,” Biti said.

“We urge provision of adequate notice to allow workers to stock-up and businesses to adjust. We urge authorities to carry out extensive decentralised testing during the extension period.

“We urge compliance with High Court orders on protective personal equipment, isolation centres and the rule of law. We urge provision of safety nets particularly water, food and cash hand-outs. We urge transparency and full disclosure.”