Gutu (New Ziana) – Masvingo Provincial Minister of State Ezra Chadzamira on Monday urged health and other authorities in Gutu district to strictly enforce Covid-19 precautions, particularly the 21-day lockdown the government has ordered.

As part of a national response to the coronavirus, the government imposed a 21-day precautionary lockdown from last week, and is setting up isolation and treatment centres around the country, including at district level.

In Gutu, a Covid-19 isolation centre was established at Gutu Mission, but local health authorities told a visiting provincial coronavirus taskforce on Monday led by Chadzamira that the facility did not have key equipment such as ambulance.

But the taskforce noted that generally people in the district were complying with the lockdown and other Covid-19 precautionary measures put in place, such as wearing masks.

At the local business centre, however, there were quite a number of people moving around, prompting Chadzamira to urge local security authorities to strictly enforce the precautions.

As many people cite search for food as the reason for leaving home, the minister told district leaders to step up food distribution through the social welfare department.

The taskforce was also told local businesses had hiked prices, particularly of food, taking advantage of supply interruptions cause by the lockdown.

Last week, President Emmerson Mnangagwa sternly warned business against profiteering taking advantage of the Covid-19 lockdown, saying government would take harsh action.
New Ziana