BY SILAS NKALA
ZAPU and civic groups in Bulawayo have called on the government to ban public gatherings to avoid the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) as the deadly disease wreaks havoc globally.
The opposition party and the civic groups say they are particularly worried about large gatherings expected at Independence Day celebrations and the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair set for next month.
This year’s main Independence Day celebrations will be held in Bulawayo.
Zapu spokesperson Iphithule Maphosa said Zimbabwe had no capacity to deal with a coronavirus outbreak, hence the need to suspend public gatherings.
“Precaution is the best alternative in our case. Suspend Independence celebrations slated for Bulawayo, ZITF, sports gatherings and any other public gathering until the epidemic is under control,” Maphosa said.
Habakkuk Trust CEO Dumisani Nkomo said Independence celebrations should be cancelled in the interests of public health.
“More adequate measures must be put in place to monitor and track the virus,” Nkomo said. “Our country should be in a state of disaster preparedness.”
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Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association Ambrose Sibindi said Zimbabwe had no proper health facilities to accommodate infected people.
“The government has not announced any clear steps the public should take in case of a suspected coronavirus case,” Sibindi said.
“The government should also control gatherings to avert disaster.
“As Bulawayo residents we are very unfortunate to host this year’s independence celebration in that people from across the country and beyond our borders will be here and there is a potential of the spread of the coronavirus.”
He said while Bulawayo was set to benefit from business generated during Independence day celebrations, the repercussions in the event of an outbreak outweighed the profits.
Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe President Takavafira Zhou said any gathering posed a challenge to public health.
“Government has to wake up from its deep slumber, send testing kits to all health institutions throughout the country, improve monitoring systems on all visitors and returnees to Zimbabwe, let alone minimise gatherings that can act as catalysts to the spread of the disease,” Zhou said.
ZPRA Veterans Association secretary-general Petros Sibanda said it was up to government to suspend public gatherings.
“If the gatherings like Independence celebrations, which this time are expected to be in Bulawayo is seen as posing a risk to the spread of coronavirus, it is wise for the government to postpone such events until a time when it is safe,” he said.
Human rights activist Effie Ncube said the government must take all the necessary measures in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation on coronavirus.
He said if the government was ready to protect its people there was no reason to fear the gatherings as long as the government is doing the right thing to protect the citizens from the spread of the disease.
Health ministry, permanent secretary Agnes Mahomva told journalists in Bulawayo on Thursday that the ministry had no authority to ban or stop the public events like the Independence and ZITF.
“Only the policy makers such as the executive and the legislature can do that,” she said.
