Zimbabwe Retailers' Statement Calling For 30-day National Lockdown {Full Text}

Statement by the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) president Denford Mutashu on national lockdown.

DATE: 21.06.2021

The Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) is calling on His Excellency President Dr Emmerson .D. Mnangagwa, The Hon Vice President & Ministry of Health and Child Care General (Rtd) Dr CGN Chiwenga and Government to implement a National lockdown owing to the continued rise in Covid-19 statistics and the impending disastrous threat posed by the deadly Third Wave.

This comes after CZR has noticed a general complacency in most parts of the country which has seen a rise in lack of physical distancing, disregard to wearing of masks, as most people quickly put on their masks when approaching police officers only to take them off thereafter.

There is however a need for increased Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) presence in most parts of the country mostly communities and major highways.

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It is also critical to highlight that the general citizenry must remain vigilant and be alive to the deadly threat posed by the 3rd wave of Covid-19.

Law enforcement agencies should clamp down on illegal gatherings, illegal private house parties, close all Shabeens as well as enforcing minimum numbers for funerals.

Only essential services providers should remain operational during the proposed 30-day lockdown. Public transport operators should also carry 50% of their capacity.

As CZR we implore Government to revise lockdown offence penalties.

The business community should also reactivate its support towards resource mobilization as the country continue with its vaccination drive while the drive should be accelerated and spread out across the country so that that public vaccination is accelerated.

CZR, therefore, recommends an 8 pm to 6 am curfew and reduce operating hours to 8 am to 4 pm daily for essential services providers.

Companies should also submit a list of their essential employees to a command centre in their area of operations.

Denford Mutashu
CZR President