Harare, (New Ziana) – Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Joe Matiza, died on Friday, plunging the country into national mourning for the third time inside a week.

He died at a Harare hospital, reportedly from Covid-19, to become the country’s third loss of a government minister inside a week.

Earlier, the country lost Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Sibusiso Moyo and Manicaland Provincial and Devolution Minister Ellen Gwaradzimba, to Covid-19.

The latter was buried at the National Heroes Acre on Thursday, while Moyo will be interred next week.

A new virulent strain of Covid-19, thought to have originated from South Africa, is sweeping across the country, leading to a sharp spike in both infections and deaths.

Daily Covid-19 infections are now averaging around a thousand, up from less than a hundred two months ago, while deaths are about 50, an increase from nil to two in November last year.

The sharp rise is also attributed to complacency by the public in adhering to recommended precautions against the pandemic.

Only now, in the wake of rising infections and deaths, is the public beginning to appreciate the serious danger posed by Covid-19.

Several other well known public figures, ranging from politics to business and sport, have also succumbed to the pandemic in recent days.

Gwaradzimba’s burial was done jointly with that of another national hero, Moton Malianga, who also died from Covid-19.

Apart from his cabinet post, Matiza was also the chairman of the ruling Zanu-PF party in Mashonaland East Province.
He was 60.
New Ziana