President Mnangagwa today extended the national COVID-19 lockdown by two weeks while he allows mining to scale up. Below are the highlights of his speech.

– Cases in Zimbabwe are increasing

– We have in-country infections

– transmission is increasing

– We have infections from returning residents

– Countries in the region and in the rest of the world are experiencing increased cases

– We have not met the minimum standards set by WHO for us to lift lockdown.

*-Government extending lockdown by a further 14 days up to 3 May 2020*

– Mining sector to resume

– Min of health and child care work closely as they’re tested and screened ahead of resumption

– Manufacturing sector limited operations to resume with safeguards being adhered to

– Reprieve given to both formal and informal manufacturing sector

– Social Welfare assisting the needy

– Army and Police assisting with food distributions

– I shall be visiting cities, towns and rural areas to see first hand the burden that citizens are having due to the lockdown

– My government is a listening government, you’re free to come forward with any suggestions on how to deal with the present situation

– We will come back to you after these 14 days telling you on how we’re going to proceed