'Announce Decision On Lockdown Now', Mnangagwa Told

Former Education Minister David Coltart has called upon President Emmerson Mnangagwa to announce the government’s plans on whether to lift or extend the lockdown well before it elapses at midnight on Sunday the 19th April.

Writing on his blog this Friday, Coltart asserted that announcing the government’s decision concerning the lockdown on the 20th will cause unnecessary confusion and chaos. He said:

The Zimbabwean Coronavirus lockdown is due to end at midnight on Sunday the 19th of April. Mr Mnangagwa has stated that his government is going to review that policy and has suggested he will make a decision on the 20th April, but if it is left that late that will only cause unnecessary confusion.

Businesses need to be able to plan ahead and the government should announce their intentions today. It will cause chaos if the government waits until the weekend, or after the weekend, to announce its decision.

Coltart added that there is a need to reconsider the stay-at-home order as it is clear that that the measures are not working. He said:

… it is clear that in many respects the lockdown is not working in Zimbabwe, and in any event is unsustainable. Lockdowns may work in countries with resilient economies but the danger in Zimbabwe is that more people may die from starvation than COVID-19.

In addition it is virtually impossible for poor people to remain in their tiny homes for weeks on end without any ability to make an income and feed themselves.

Zimbabwe now has twenty-four confirmed coronavirus cases, including two recoveries and three deaths according to official sources.

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