The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) notes with concern the premature lifting of lockdown restrictions by the Government of Zimbabwe without meeting the six (6) conditions prescribed by the World Health Organization for lifting lockdown restrictions.
President Mnangagwa reviewed the lockdown restrictions through Statutory Instrument 99 of 2020 on 01 May 2020 and effectively allowed the movement of citizens with wearing masks being mandatory. Zimbabwe has not conducted sufficient tests and contact tracing, to warrant an easing of restrictions, in fact the country the country has been dogged by limited test kits in public health facilities.
By transferring the burden of testing and public safety to corporates, Government, in our view has abdicated its social and responsibility and constitutional duty as required by section 76(1) of the Zimbabwe Constitution.
In our view, the premature lifting of the lockdown lacks a coherent strategy to deal with the spread and impact of COVID-19 and government has relegated its duty of containing the spread by requiring corporates to conduct testing and enforcing social distancing at the workplace. The World Health Organization set the following standard conditions for the lifting of restrictions:
a) Disease transmission is under control
b) Health systems are able to “detect, test, isolate and treat every case and trace every contact”
c) Hot spot risks are minimized in vulnerable places, such as nursing homes
d) Schools, workplaces and other essential places have established preventive measures
e) The risk of importing new cases “can be managed”
f) Communities are fully educated, engaged and empowered to live under a new normal
We note with concern that Zimbabwe has not met the conditions set by WHO to allow the country to open up commerce and industry amid rising cases of local transmissions and posthumous COVID-19 confirmations. By easing the lockdown restrictions government has surrendered to fate at a time that the repurposing of health facilities is ongoing at a snail’s pace and minimum public education on the disease is available.
In fact the Ministry of Health and Child Care only began its community outreach targeting high-density suburbs on 02 May 2020 after announcing a partial lockdown.
Government’s easing of lockdown restrictions has not corresponded with the reality facing citizens. By ordering the mandatory wearing of masks without access for vulnerable groups, government has left already impoverished citizens at the mercy of unscrupulous businesses. In the absence of a comprehensive public education programme, masks may pose greater risks to citizens.
We urge the government to urgently review SI 99 of 2020 by extending a lockdown that is supported by extensive testing and contact tracing and immediate social safety nets that are commensurate with the new Poverty Datum Line of ZW$6,240.87. We reiterate that in the interest of public health and safety, Government should only consider relaxing the lockdown restrictions after satisfactorily meeting the six (6) preconditions set by WHO.
The following issues should form the gist of the national prevention and response plan:
a. The urgent and speedy repurposing of healthcare facilities to ensure that citizens have access to COVID-19 screening, testing and treatment facilities and general healthcare is available, accessible and affordable to every citizen who needs it.
b. Restoring public confidence in the health care system by establishing more resilient health care systems, adequately equipping facilities and incentivizing health workforce.
c. Government must immediately dispatch financial assistance to vulnerable groups targeting the 8,5 million citizens who face starvation and those in the informal sector whose livelihoods were destroyed. In the absence of a social cushioning facility, social or physical distancing in Zimbabwe will remain a pipe dream, as citizens will continue to crowd in search of basic commodities.
d. Periodic and timely updates on progress, explaining each stage or phase to citizens, to insulate citizens against the spread of the virus
ENDS///