Harare (New Ziana) – Measures adopted by government to curb the spread of Covid-19 are likely to remain in place until the level of new infections is brought under control, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Wednesday.
He was speaking at State House after receiving a variety of donations towards the Covid-19 national response.
Among other strategies, Zimbabwe is currently observing a nation-wide lockdown which has to a certain extent helped slow the rate of Covid-19 infections.
With the lockdown set to end on May 3, President Mnangagwa hinted at a possible extension of the stringent measures adopted by government at the end of March.
“As government, our responsibility is to look after the living. So I believe that it is necessary that we do everything in our power to preserve life,” he said.
“In relation to our own situation, the spike is going up, it is not going down so we have to take more measures until we reach a stage where there are more recoveries than there are positive cases coming up then we know we are succeeding but for now we believe that we have not reached the peak of attack by the pandemic, so this is indicative of measures that shall continue to help us save lives.”
President Mnangagwa said government was aware of the negative impact the lockdown has had on the economy, but said saving the lives of Zimbabweans was more important.
“We as government and I as President decided that on this challenge what do we do to balance the need for economic growth and the lives of the people? I came to the conclusion that if our people die we cannot resuscitate them, (but) the economy can die and it can be resuscitated now or in future, It does not matter. As long as people are alive we can always have conferences to say how do we resuscitate the economy but I have never seen a conference where people are discussing how to resuscitate the dead.
“So our bias is towards the preservation of life and this, why you are here, is demonstrative of your understanding that it is necessary to preserve life. We had the first lockdown which I extended by another 14 days, when she (Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri) came to disturb me I was thinking about what happens after this one ends, but the primary objective is to give priority to saving lives.”
The President added: “I have been studying events worldwide, how governments are reacting to this thing, some (reactions) border on the line of carelessness, some border on the line of over cautiousness so we must find a way where in my view we err on the side of cautiousness than err on the side of recklessness.”
On extending the original lockdown, President Mnangagwa allowed the crucial mining and manufacturing sectors to re-open to keep the economy running.
A further extension could be implemented with more relaxed conditions for other crucial sectors of the economy.
Meanwhile, President Mnangagwa received more donations towards the Covid-19 national response from companies including Cottco, Cresta Hotels, African Sun hotel, Rainbow Tourism Group, Gain wholesalers, FAW auto manufacturing company and the Indian government.
The donated items ranged from medicines, face masks, bed linen and bath towels and roller meal.
He expressed gratitude for the level of response to the fight against Covid-19 from local companies, churches and international partners.
“Across the board, African leaders began to react, those who had recourses on the African continent began to apply those resources to mitigate against the attack by the pandemic, we here in Zimbabwe with the burden of sanctions and with the realisation that we have a very weak economy, a less developed economy, a less developed health care system we felt that the pandemic would find joy in a country like ours and ravage our population.
“But we said we will not receive the blow lying down, let us stand up, let us mobilise ourselves let us appeal to friends, friendly nations, organisations but most importantly to our own people, Zimbabweans,” he said.
New Ziana