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MINISTER of State Security Owen Ncube has warned Members of Parliament and councillors against issuing travelling exemptions to people during the Covid-19 induced lockdown.

Speaking during a tour of the Gweru Provincial Hospital Isolation Centre on Saturday, Minister Ncube said only police and District Development Coordinators had the prerogative to issue such travelling exemptions.

He said security forces enforcing the lockdown will not recognise exemptions issued by MPs and councillors.

“I would want to warn our Members of Parliament and Councillors not to issue exemption letters for people to travel during the lockdown,” said Minister Ncube.

“This is tantamount to flouting the regulations thereof. I’m sorry to inform you that police will not be recognising these letters at all.

“Police and District Development Coordinators are the only ones that can issue out exemptions.

People have to be serious about this disease. This disease is real.

If you look and observe what is happening in other countries, they have more than 500, while some have more than 1 000 people dying every day.

“If we do not take it seriously, we might plunge into the same predicament. Let us all comply with the lockdown directive.”

Minister Ncube said Midlands was one of the provinces making significant strides in the preparations for the fight against Covid-19.-State media