Pres Mnangagwa lauds Zimbabweans for heeding lockdown

Harare, (New Ziana) – President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday applauded Zimbabweans for largely heeding government’s 21-day Covid-19 lockdown, but cautioned the country should remain on high alert as there was a possibility infections could increase.

In an update on the pandemic on day five of the lockdown, President
Mnangagwa said rising global infections, which have exceeded one million,
meant Zimbabwe was still at great risk.

Zimbabwe has to date recorded nine Covid-19 infections and one death.

“As your President, I am proud of the way most of you have responded to the lockdown. Except where absolutely necessary you have stayed at home, together with your families. We are on the right path,” President Mnangagwa said.

“We cannot afford to be deceived by the small number of infections, but we must continue to scale up our preparations. We are not out of the woods.”

While measures that have been put in place appear to be paying off, the Head of State said the approaching winter season presented threats.

“In self-discipline is our safety and collective security as a nation,” he said.

He said while government was scaling up preparedness in the health sector, it was imperative that the wheels of the economy and industry keep turning to avoid a recession.

The 2020 National Budget would be revised to provide buffers to both the economy and citizens in the wake of the pandemic, he said.

“Government and the business sector must together ensure we minimize the likelihood of shocks and lessen the magnitude of an economic downturn as a result of this pandemic. The wheels of industry must keep turning, albeit at a slower pace, for the sake of our survival,” he said.

He emphasised that food production and its supply chains must not be disturbed even during the lockdown, which ends on April 20.

“Food supply must be guaranteed, with minimum shocks and disruption.
Farmers must continue to produce for our nation, even under conditions
of a lockdown. Farmers and traders alike must equally continue to deliver produce to markets including those markets that supply our cities, towns and growth points,” the President said.

“I direct our security arms to ensure pathway of food supply. All our
producers must continue to feed our nation with minimum hustle.”

President Mnangagwa said government was aware the lockdown, in Zimbabwe’s high informalised economy, would have a negative impact on incomes.

“We have, therefore, committed to provide social safety nets to ensure
that vulnerable households are sustained during this challenging period,” he said.

The Covid-19 outbreak presented opportunities for innovation and growth for Zimbabwe’s health sector which must emerge stronger from the crisis, he said.

“This must be a turning point which will see our country emerge from this misfortune, secure and self sufficient through import substitution with new industries in the medical sector and associated exports,” he said.
New Ziana