Own Correspondent|Kuda Tagwirei run Fossil Group yestrday donated 15 tonnes of disinfectant liquid worth $10 million which they said was enough to fumigate all Zupco buses beyond the three-week national lockdown against Coronavirus.

Announcing the national lockdown last week, President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared that only ZUPCO buses in which he himself and Tagwirei somehow have vested interests, will be allowed to operate to ferry members of the public who will be manning essential services points.

The disinfectants will be distributed to the five biggest cities in Zimbabwe, as the nation readies to enter a 21-day lockdown starting Monday.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa received the materials which included hydrogen peroxide.

The chemicals will be used to disinfect all ZUPCO buses in the country and are expected to last until at least 90 days.

Each of the five cities – Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Mutare and Masvingo – will receive five tonnes of the disinfectants. The donations were handed by Mr. Obey Chimuka, a director at the Fossil Group.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Child Care, which overall supervises the country’s fight against the coronavirus, received ten tonnes of the disinfectants.

Tagwirei also donated 300 knapsack sprayers as well as 500 safety goggles for the disinfecting teams.

Speaking after receiving the donation from Fossil Group chief executive Mr Obey Chimuka at State House yesterday, President Mnangagwa said staying home was the best way to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

“It is important that there is no concentration of people. If we keep to our homes during the 21 days, I have no doubt that this will give a big blow to the spread of the pandemic.”

The President rallied for combined efforts in fighting the spread of the virus as he urged other local companies to emulate the donation by Fossil Group.

“I believe that other companies who produce materials needed to fight the pandemic should do the same and come forward to donate.

“As companies, as industries, as organisations, if we put our resources together … I have no doubt that we will succeed in fighting the pandemic.”