Zim schools to close early

Harare (New Ziana) – The government on Thursday ordered schools, colleges and universities in the country to close next week as a precaution against Covid-19 that is ravaging the world.

Zimbabwe has no confirmed case of the disease, which has killed over 10 000 people around the world, and infected hundreds of thousands others.

In a statement, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the government had ordered all educational institutions in the country to close on March 24 as part of precautionary measures taken to fight against Covid-19.

This also follows strong representations from the educational sector for the precaution to be taken in line with similar moves around the world.

“The decision is part of the general precautionary measures the country is taking in light of the worldwide outbreak and rapid spread of the coronavirus,” President Mnangagwa said.

“While Zimbabwe has not recorded any cases of the virus to date, government has thought it prudent to err on the side of caution,more so in respect of teaching institutions where human concentration and contact is expectedly high,” he added.

Earlier, the government had decided to allow schools to run the full term, which was left with two weeks, but this was strongly opposed by parents, teachers and other stakeholders in view of the rapid spread of Covid-19.

This was also in view of confirmed cases of the disease in neighbouring South Africa, Namibia and Zambia.
New Ziana