Harare(New Ziana)-Ongoing government food distribution to vulnerable communities around the country will carry on uninterrupted during the 21- day Covid-19 lockdown, a Cabinet Minister said on Saturday.

Zimbabwe imposed a 21-day nationwide lockdown on Friday to better combat Covid-19, and this takes effect next week.

Giving a media briefing after a Covid1-19 inter- ministerial taskforce meeting, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said food distribution points for the grain would be increased to prevent the spreading of Covid-19.

“The distribution of food aid will continue, certainly we want our people to continue having food. However distribution points will be increased to minimise large gatherings.

“Grain and monetary payments are being made to 760 000 households throughout the country,” she said.

Mutsvangwa said the country’s state universities would immediately start manufacturing medical gowns, hand sanitizers, hand soaps and face masks in a bid to improve local supplies.

“All these are ready to produce medical gowns, hand sanitizers, hand soaps and face masks. In fact they have already started producing sanitizers,” she said.

Health and Child Care Minister Obadiah Moyo urged Zimbabweans to adhere to lockdown measures as they had proved to work in other countries.

“Lockdown is an aggressive quarantine method. People on lockdown should be honest and cooperative. These are desperate times, which ask for desperate measures.

“We have to stay indoors to stop the spread, nothing could be better than staying indoors. We recommend that we all become very disciplined in order to conquer Covid-19,” he said.

Meanwhile, President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Saturday received a donation of 15 tonnes of detergents enough to disinfect Zupco buses for 90 days, knapsack sprayers and goggles from a local firm, Fossil group.

Speaking after receiving the donation, the President urged citizens to observe the lock down measures by staying at home.

“It requires us as companies, as individuals, as organisations to put our resources together; I have no doubt that we will succeed in fighting this pandemic. But most importantly it’s important that the people observe the measures which we put forward so that there is no concentration of people. If we keep to our homes in the next 21 days, I have no doubt that that will give a big blow to the spread of Covid-19,” he said.

New Ziana