By Patrick Guramatunhu- “Why is that one of Africa’s most prosperous nations, South Africa, with strong economy and working health service, has the highest corona virus cases and deaths? It is counter intuitive!” asked Stephen Sackur, BBC HardTalk presenter.
“There is a significant amount of under reporting of corona virus cases and mortalities in some countries!” replied Professor Barry Schoub, a virologist and Chair of Advisory Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine in South Africa.
At the time of the above interview, mid December 2020, SA had over 1 million covid-19 cases and 25 000 covid-19 deaths. Zimbabwe had less than 12 000 cases and less than 400 deaths!
Given the heavy human traffic across the Limpopo River throughout the year, one expected Zimbabwe’s corona virus load to be comparable to that of SA. Zimbabwe’s population is 1/4 that of SA and therefore the corona virus cases and deaths would be 250 000 and 6 000 plus respectively. And yet Zimbabwe’s official figures are only 5%! How is that possible????
The official corona virus figures are of people who have been tested and the result came out positive. It is no secret that Zimbabwe has conducted the lowest number of covid-19 test per capita in the region.
Whilst SA was carrying out over 44 000 covid-19 teats per day in December 2020 and Zimbabwe should have been doing 11 000, or 1/4 that of SA, it was only doing 1 500 on a really busy day!
To make matters worse, the Zanu PF regime has been testing all those likely to come into conduct with the ruling elite to protect the chefs instead of testing those with corona virus symptoms and frontline workers!
A number of students at Dadaya High School had corona virus symptoms with a few testing positive of the virus, for example. Instead of testing everyone of the 1 000 or so student, only enough test kits to test 47 were supplied. The School closed a few days later and many suspected of corona virus infection were released on the unsuspecting community!
Of course, by failing to test and isolate those with the corona virus the regime was helping the virus spread far and wide and fast.
Zanu PF’s blundering incompetence has turn corona virus in Zimbabwe from a tragedy into a catastrophe of Biblical proportion. To start with, Zimbabwe’s economy was already in total meltdown and its health care services all but collapsed before the corona virus outbreak. And now, by foolishly trying to hide the seriousness of the pandemic by under reporting the virus figures, the regime is helping spread the virus!
The real tragedy for Zimbabwe is even now with the number of corona virus cases and deaths soaring the Zanu PF ruling elite have no clue what is going on. None!
“One expects that when tragedy strikes, it would gradually abet but this is not the case, it is only God who knows when it will end,” said VP Chiwenga, who is also Minister of Health, presiding over the burial of three covid-19 victims at the national heroes shrine.
“The virus has taught us an important lesson that we are all mortals. It does discriminate against the weak and the powerful, the privileged and the deprived, the haves and the have-nots. It is a ruthless juggernaut that leaves a trail of despair and desperation. But we will eventually conquer it and prevail as a people.”
The most important lesson the of soaring corona virus cases and deaths, way above the falsified official figures, is; “No one can cheat a deadly disease like corona virus. Those who try will pay dearly for their foolishness!”
Zimbabwe does not have economic resources to pay even a token welfare support to the millions now living in abject poverty let alone the generous furlough payments other nations are paying their citizens during corona virus lockdown. The country’s hospitals are so poorly equipped and staffed the country can do very little to save the lives of seriously ill corona virus patients.
Indeed, the country’s hospitals are already overwhelmed by the surge in corona virus cases. Hospitals are running out of something as basic as oxygen!
However, what Zimbabwe can and should do is reduce the spread of the virus which is fuelling the hospital cases by ramping up the testing and isolating. Sadly that is the one thing this Zanu PF regime will fight tooth and nail to stop happening.
Of course, Professor Schoub was right, “there is a significant amount of under reporting of corona virus cases and mortalities in some countries!”
“Most important lesson corona virus has taught us is we are all mortals!” Talk of someone reading the Bible cover to cover only to learn how to count to ten!
Dear God, how are we going to get out of this hell! What have we done to deserve this!