By Wilbert Mukori- There is growing evidence the third wave of the corona virus outbreak is upon us. We have known it was coming; not that we were ready for it. Worst still, there are more waves to come.

“According to a situation report released by the ministry of health and Child Care, a boarding school in Matabeleland South province recorded 78 Covid-19 cases on Friday,” reported Bulawayo 24.

“Sacred heart Girls high School and Mzingwane high School in Matabeleland South had recorded 106 cases on the previous day.” 

Government’s response has been to blame the schools authorities and the public for breaking government orders not to travel during Easter break.

“But health experts bemoaned poor testing facilities and relaxation of contact tracing measures, which was resulting in a high number of cases left without being detected, fuelling further transmissions,” Bulawayo 24 reported.

Well this is the first time since the corona virus outbreak that any health expert has dared criticise the Zanu PF government’s blundering incompetence in the handling of the pandemic.

In a country where all professionals from across the board are “captured” by the ruling party, Zanu PF, getting anyone to say anything that may be read as critical of the regime is unheard of. When it comes to saying anything exposing government blundering incompetence, there is dead silence. 

Professional ethics and one’s obligation to society count for nothing in Zimbabwe!

As citizens, we all have a duty and responsibility safe guard the truth, not to be complacent in helping to bury it, and to ensure those in positions of power and authority are held to democratic account for their acts. The very fact that Zanu PF does not take kindly to being held to democratic account is no excuse the nation’s professionals have abandoned their democratic obligations. The country’s health professionals have indulged the regime and the nation is paying dearly for it.

It is no secret that Zimbabwe’s official corona virus cases and deaths figures of 37 273 and 1 528 respectively, are but a fraction of the real figures. The country’s frontline health professionals have known all along that  government’s testing regime has been wilfully inadequate to pick up all the cases. The people have been blissfully unaware there are many more covid-19 cases in their midst than the government let out. And when dealing with such a deadly disease like corona virus, ignorance is deadly!

By failing to carry out adequate tests, tracking and isolation, it is obvious a high number of covid-19 infection cases have gone undetected and thus helped the spread of the virus far and wide. 

Reports of the third wave of corona virus outbreak only serves to underline the seriousness of the pandemic and why everyone, more so the health experts must now play their full role by making sure the people are well informed and that this Zanu PF government held to account for its actions.

Indeed, given the regime’s blundering incompetence in the handling of the vaccine roll out, it could be a long time before the country reach herd immunity. And God only knows how many new covid-19 waves will buffet the nation until then. 

The first corona virus vaccines were approved in December 2020. Some nation are looking at reaching their herd immunity targets by June this year. Not so for Zimbabwe!

Zimbabwe received its first Sinopharm vaccine in mid February and so far has received over one million doses. Less than 200 000 have been vaccinated in the last two months which is 2% of the 10 million (assuming one dose will give some immunity) required to reach herd immunity. It beggars belief why two months after receipt 800 000 vaccines are still in storage instead of people’s arms! 

Zanu PF’s blundering incompetence in the handling of this corona virus has underlined the importance of good, competent and accountable government. We are not out of the woods yet as far as this covid-19 pandemic is concerned and if every one, notably the health expert, take up their democratic duty to tell the truth and to hold this Zanu PF regime to account many Zimbabweans will be spared the agony of corona virus infection and many lives will be saved!