Harare(New Ziana) – Zororo Makamba, who succumbed to Covid-19 on Monday, was laid to rest at a family farm just outside Harare, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, has said.
He was one of the country’s two confirmed Covid-19 cases, and is thought to have contracted it in the United States where he had gone early this year.
His death marked the first Covid-19 fatality in the country.
Makamba, son to business tycoon James Makamba, tested positive for coronavirus on Friday, and was immediately admitted at Wilkins Hospital, one of three specialist treatment centres the government has designated for the pandemic.
Giving a post Cabinet media briefing, Mutsvangwa said Makamba’s burial was done in strict accordance with Public Health Act protocols for infectious diseases.
“Zororo has been laid to rest. And yes with the supervision of health authorities. He was laid to rest this afternoon,” she said.
The late Makamba was a journalist, and produced and hosted the popular television programme, the State of the Nation.
Mutswangwa said the other Covid-19 patient, a foreign national who is also suspected to have contracted the disease outside the country, was recovering well in hospital in Victoria Falls.
“He is being monitored by health authorities. He is okay, he is stable,” she said.
The man, 38, fell ill shortly after returning to Zimbabwe from Britain, a country heavily affected by Covid-19.
The Victoria Falls hospital is another health facility the government has equipped and designated to treat Covid-19 patients.
Mutswangwa also said two government officials that had recently come into contact with Makamba had been quarantined for 21 days as a precaution.
Makamba is reported to have visited some government offices in Harare shortly before he was tested for Covid-19, and subsequently admitted in hospital.
“They are being quarantined,” Mutswangwa said, referring to the government officials who came in contact with Makamba.
She said government had placed top priority on stopping the spread of Covid-19, and treating to full recovery those infected by the pandemic.
This week, it strengthened surveillance and precautionary measures against Covid-19, including closing all the country’s borders to non-essential human traffic, and shutting down schools and sporting and entertainment venues.
Other measures include a ban on foreign travel by government officials, and strict Covid-19 screening at all government offices.
A high-powered inter-ministerial taskforce, comprised of cabinet ministers, has also been set up to combat the pandemic, which has killed over 16 000 around the world, and infected nearly 400 000 others.
New Ziana