Relax Lockdown Restrictions, Government Urged.
Ronald Chigwada
Opposition political parties, trade unions and residents have urged government to pay further attention to the socio-economic impact of prolonged lockdown and relax it’s measures to allow informal sector to begin trading in the absence of relief funds.
On the second of February 2021, the government of Zimbabwe declared an extension of two more weeks in the lockdown which ended on the 15th of February 2021. This came in after a spike COVID-19 positive cases and deaths.
As President E.D Mnagangwa is set to update the nation on the lockdown, a survey carried out by Community Radio Harare (CORAH) yielded that various sectors are expecting relaxation of the lockdown measures to ease the current economic situation as they are struggling to put food on the table.
Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation Communications Officer Jabulani Chikomwe has this to say, ” Government should relax the lockdown measures to allow the informal sector to open up and begin trading in light of lack of relief funds from the state”.
Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) noted that government should take advice from health experts and act in the best interest of public health.
Further-more, ARTUZ leader Obert Masaraure said government should pay attention to the socio-economic impact of extending the lockdown. “I strongly advise against a prolonged hard lock down”, said Masaraure.
LEAD party president, Linda Masarira also has joined the nation in denouncing further extension of the lockdown, calling on government to relax the lockdown since the greater percentage of citizens survive on informal trading.
She also added that citizens should be given a chance to source funds to pay rents and other extended expenses.
Harare residents have also expressed that lockdown measures should be relaxed, accommodate operation of informal businesses and movement of ordinary citizens. Meanwhile citizens fear the extension of lockdown as it may continue to hurt the poor.
