MEDIA BRIEF BY MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES, HON MONICA MUTSVANGWA

My fellow Zimbabweans

We have come to the end of yet another day, as we say good bye to the month of April, we take the time to reflect and re-evaluate. The road continues to be bumpy as we all had to change our lifestyles and habits in order to prevent and protect ourselves from this global pandemic, COVID19.

Zimbabwe has not been spared by the COVID 19 pandemic as we have lost loved ones at home and abroad. I pass my condolences to all bereaved families, special condolences to the scores of dutiful and valiant Zimbabwean nurses and health workers in the Diaspora, particularly in the United Kingdom.

Painful as it is, their loss has wrote an indelible page of Zimbabwean medical prowess on the global stage.

May their Souls Rest In Peace and may those left behind find comfort in the memories of their loved ones. Let us continue to take all the necessary measures to protect ourselves and prevent the further spread of this virus. We are each other’s keeper.

Today marks Day 31 of the lockdown, and Government once again commends citizens for adhering to the lockdown regulations and working smoothly with those implementing and enforcing the lockdown. His Excellency, President ED Mnangagwa has said that Government’s top priority is to save and preserve lives. and saving lives during this period. We can resuscitate the economy, but we cannot resuscitate the dead. So let us continue to practice protective and preventative measures.
With winter fast approaching, the setting up and the rehabilitation and capacitation of medical facilities has to be accelerated across the whole country. Government welcomes all those who have come on board to support this initiative with donations of medical equipment and supplies for the treatment of coronavirus symptoms.

It has been noted that some unapproved individuals are attempting to take advantage of the global pandemic selling unfit medical equipment and claiming to provide medical services. Citizens, we urge you to seek services from registered health institutions; where and when you are in doubt, you should contact the national help lines, 2019 for clinical issues and 2023 for non-clinical issues. Where you are assured of receiving the correct information and assistance.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care is in the process of validating and assessing private facilities across the country and once this is completed the approved facilities will be publicized.

We continue to witness an upsurge in the number of returning residents at our border posts. His Excellency, the President has said that Zimbabweans are free to come home. However, they have to be quarantined for 21 days with testing on Day 1, Day 8 and Day 21. We urge returnees to adhere to the set regulations which are there to protect them and their loved ones here at home.

It is in times of adversity that the spirit of a nation is realized. Zimbabweans have once again proved that the tie that binds us together as a people is our Ubuntu. The understanding that we accomplish great feats as a collective has been brought to life by individuals, corporations and various organisations that are daily playing their part in Zimbabwe’s response and preparedness action plan. Equally, developmental partners are standing with us as part of the global campaign to curb the spread of COVID19.

Let each and every one of us play their part by ensuring that they practice protective and preventive behavior. As President ED Mnangagwa said, we can resuscitate the economy, but we cannot resuscitate the dead.

Please stay home, practice good hygiene and stay safe.

I THANK YOU