At least 562 people arrested for breaching lockdown in Mat North

Hwange(New Ziana) At least 562 people have been arrested in Matebeleland North province for breaching the national lockdown which the government directed on March 30 this year to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

Provincial police spokesperson chief inspector Spiwe Makonese said Nkayi district had the highest number of people arrested compared to other districts.

“Nkayi district so far has the highest number of arrests at 243. Hwange has 123, Victoria Falls 117 while in Lupane 79 people were arrested,” she said.

The absence of the Zimbabwe Passenger Company buses which only mode of transport permitted during the lockdown after commuter omnibuses were banned has resulted in many residents from Nkayi walking long distances to shopping centres to buy groceries and conduct other businesses.

Primrose Dhlamini (56) from Nkayi confirmed that she walks daily to the local shopping centre to withdraw cash sent to her through the money transfer platform Mukuru as most citizens in the district depend on remittances from friends and family in the Diaspora.

“I go to the shops where there is Mukuru hoping to get some money. Sometimes there is no cash at Mukuru and so I go to check daily,” she said.

In Hwange residents said they are forced to move around in search of basic commodities such as sugar, mealie meal and cooking oil.

“I can not just sit at home without any sugar or mealie meal. My solution to this hunger situation is walk to OK Supermarket to buy the basic commodities,” said Misheck Maphiri from Number 1.

Although security forces are maintaining order at the Hwange OK Supermarket which is the only supermarket serving the community in the Central Business District after Pick’N Pay closed, the risk of COVID 19 spreading in the event of an outbreak is high as hundreds of residents converge outside the outlet for a chance to buy basic commodities ignoring the distancing requirements.

New Ziana