BY DR MASIMBA MAVAZA
The weekend was deafened by social media’s outcry of
Government officials pictured at minister’s birthday party, triggering outcry over police lockdown double standards and irresponsible behaviour in Mnangagwa’s New Dispensation.
Several news outlets said “Government has shown serious lockdown hypocrisy after photographs showing dozens of guests attending Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa’s birthday party, in violation of lockdown regulations, were published by a government official.” “The pictures showed no regard for social distancing at the time CORONA second wave is raging and causing havoc in the lives of many.” Screamed another online paper echoed by the parrot Fadzai Mahere the loud spoken MDC spokesperson.
However looking at the events of that day the honourable minister did not flout any regulations. Zimbabwe is guided by the WHO’s guidelines which Zimbabwe has followed to the book. As a result of such guidance Zimbabwe has managed to control the spread of the mad flue known as COVID 19.
Of all the people Monica Mutsvangwa knows how to follow rules she is the one who announces them and she leads by example.
We must all understand that any decision to hold an event during the COVID-19 pandemic, no matter how large or small, should rely on a risk-based approach. WHO has provided guidance on how such a risk-based approach can be taken.
The minister did all risk management checks and in this instance the group was
limited to a maximum of 15 people. In case people did not know that Indoor organised events for over 18s will no longer be exempt from the rule of six. Which means the maximum number will be 15 to 30. All this depends on your ability to discern danger. There is an exemption for indoor organised team sports for disabled people.
What is considered a “mass gathering” during COVID19?
Minister Mutsvangwa was surrounded by people who always surround her. Workmates who are always around her in the day to day business. This means the people who graced the birthday celebration of Mrs Mutsvangwa were largely work mates who have been tested and did not have symptoms. There are no restrictions on people from a single household spending time together outdoors or in regulated premises. This is irrespective of the size and composition of the household. For example one large single household composed of five adults and two children under 11 could go to a restaurant, café, bar or pub together as a group.
However, if some members of that household wish to meet up with other people they do not live with, that gathering should contain no more than four people at any one time (not including children under 11). This is because the risk of spreading the virus gets much greater when you meet people you do not live with. But in actual sense the group which met with the minister is the household which is best explained as workmates. They meet anyway at work and they just changed the venue of their meeting as they ate in honour of their minister.
The minister is very much alive to the fact that To reduce the risk of catching or spreading coronavirus, you should minimise time spent outside your home, and when around other people ensure that you are two metres apart from anyone not in your household or support bubble. Social distancing is essential to stop the spread of the virus, as it is more likely to spread when people are close together. An infected person can pass on the virus even if they do not have any symptoms, through talking, breathing, coughing or sneezing.
When with people you do not live with, you should also avoid: physical contact; being close and face-to-face; and shouting or singing close to them.
Where you cannot stay 2 metres apart you should stay more than 1 metre apart, and take additional steps to stay safe.
The minister did not need to be socially distanced from anyone in her household, or daily social bubble meaning the people you live with or those you work with. You also do not need to be socially distanced from anyone in your support bubble.
it may not always be possible or practicable to maintain social distancing measures were taken to make sure every person who was allowed in there was of the right temperature. There was a limit of close contact as much as possible during the whole time and other precautions such as washing hands and opening windows for ventilation were taken and religiously followed. So people you can meet with includes anyone you are in an established relationship with but do not live with – unless they are in your support bubble. Couples that do not live together and are not in a support bubble with each other can continue to see each other outdoors.
You can exercise outdoors, or visit outdoor public places, with the people you live with, your support bubble, or 1 person from another household. Children under 5, and up to two carers for a person with a disability who needs continuous care are not counted towards the gatherings limit on two or more people meeting outside.
We need to understand that Zimbabwe has relaxed the rules and churches schools and funerals are now on a relaxed regime. So meeting of workers at a place and take two minutes to take photos and wishing Happy Birthday to their minister is not a breaking of any rule.
It is clear that this gathering was a specific exception where people from different households can gather in groups.
It is a shame that people rush to make flammable statements. It is in the nature of losers to bad mouth others.
This the time when we all as a nation wish minister Mutsvangwa a Happy birthday and wish her many more.
We ought to be talking about the progress achieved by her in her ministry.
In the two years of the new dispensation under the able leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Ministry has attained the following achievements among other things
Re-aligning the existing media laws to the Constitution. The Ministry spearheaded the repeal of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), replacing it with the Freedom of Information Act. The repeal of AIPPA was done to fulfil provisions of Section 62 of the Constitution, which enshrines the Declaration of Rights, the right to access information.
Another law initiated by the Ministry, which was gazetted by Government is the Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill. The Bill elaborates the functions of the Media Commission as detailed in Section 249 of the Constitution, which relates to the regulation and control of the media.
In line with democratic ethos The ministry has
awarded Free-to-Air Commercial Television licences to six broadcasting players, ending a 64 year-old monopoly enjoyed by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC). This has freed the air waves and created a political land scape which is safe and sound. The stakeholders now have a choice of which broadcaster they favour. This has put to an end the unending song by the opposition that there is a monopoly to media.
With the hard working minister Mrs M Mutsvangwa and her hard working team the ministry has managed to Build bridges with media stakeholders by involving them in the crafting of the Freedom of Information Bill and the Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill. Every interested party has been given a chance to have a say in the laws that govern them.
The ministry has Initiated the process of licensing more Community Radio Stations.
Again the ministry has Directed parastatals that have gone for long without functional boards like the Zimbabwe Mass Media Trust (ZMMT) to appoint new boards to improve the operations of the organisations.
In order to fit in the nee world order the ministry has Introduced the robust use of the social media or new media by Ministry officials to promote Government projects and programmes; and to liaise with media stakeholders.
Not to be left behind the ministry has Resuscitated and rebranded the Ministry website in line with global trends.
Created a news website www.zimreport.co.zw that features developmental stories from around the country.
Information is strength and wealth. The ministry has embraced the President’s vision 2030 by giving air space and promoting all those who have the same mind to achieve Vision 2030.
The success of the ministry could not have been possible without the wise leadership of President Mnangagwa and the hard pulling by Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, Perm sec Nick Mangwana and the whole team in the ministry. The ministry will march on to satisfy all Zimbabweans and feed them with information about Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is the only country we can call ours in the whole world.