800 000 Arrested For Lockdown Violations

Just under 800 000 people have been arrested since March last year for violating regulations aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has said.

Most of the arrests were for offences that include violating movement restrictions, public gatherings and failure to wear masks. ZRP national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said:

As of 7th July 2021, police have arrested a cumulative total of 797 961 people for offences related to COVID-19 since 30 March 2020.

Most of these arrests were for offences in relation to the Liquor Act, Road Traffic Act, operating business offences, violating movement restrictions, gathering offences, failure to wear a mask and other offences.

Harare Metropolitan province accounts for most of the arrests with over 236 000 followed by Bulawayo with 121 168.

Manicaland (98 379) comes third, followed by Masvingo (71 263), Mashonaland East (73 861), Mashonaland West (60 895), Mashonaland Central (56 218) and Midlands (39 644).

There were 23 569 arrests in Matabeleland South and 16 123 in Matabeleland North.

More than 4 000 people were arrested on Wednesday last week for violating the enhanced Level Four national lockdown regulations.

The government recently tightened lockdown measures, which include a ban on all public gatherings and inter-city travel.

The night curfew was also extended from 6.30 pm to 6 am while operating hours for businesses were reduced to between 8 am to 3.30 pm.

More: The Sunday Mail