Young people from Matabeleland South, who are mostly unemployed, have said they are facing numerous challenges as a result of the re-enacted tough lockdown conditions that include a 6 to 6 curfew and strict terms for leaving home.
A few weeks ago, signs of normalcy were beginning to show as the public gradually adapted to the eased lockdown restrictions picking their previously freezed routines to go about their daily routines.
Zimbabwe adopted a national lockdown in March to try and contain the global Covid-19 pandemic. The lockdown was eased a month ago to allow citizens to resume their daily routines that mostly include hustling for food and money as most people are unemployed.
However, due to the latest COVID 19 confirmed cases spike, the president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, re-enacted a strict lockdown.
One of the terms of the 12 hour curfew, which starts at 6am and ends at 6pm is that those who are not employed stay at home but only move when they want to fetch water, buy things or seek medical attention at clinics and hospitals.
Young people have said there are other measures that can be taken besides the lockdown to deal with the increasing Covid-19 infections.
“I never thought we will return to another lockdown that forces us to abandon our informal activities,” one female youth said. “I am still confused with this lockdown especial on the case of those who are not working. Many people are working but not formally employed. There are people who go around people’s homes selling things like brooms, tomatoes and cobra. Does it mean they are allowed to continue doing their work or they are restricted as they are not registered workers?”
The youths pointed out that the surge in coronavirus cases in Zimbabwe was not only a result of the lockdown conditions but a case of people who are not following preventative measures as advised by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“I think the best thing to do is making sure that people are adhering to all preventive measures required against COVID 19,” said another youth. “The wearing of masks and washing them all the time, carrying sanitizers and making sure that people maintain social distance in queues such as when shopping. In buses, no social distancing is observed. These are the issues that the government needs to look on as they are key areas for the mitigation of the virus spread.
“Instead of deploying soldiers or the police in the streets for public monitoring issues only, heavy security is needed in quarantine centres where people escape, thus increasing the risks of people getting infected in communities. Heavy security is needed also in borders where returnees enter the country illegally. These are the people who are the catalysts of local transmissions in communities.
Another young person said the lockdown only suppresses the masses who survive on hand to mouth activities rather than dealing with the challenge of containing the spread of the virus.
“Over a hundred thousand of people have been arrested for allegedly breaking lockdown measures,” he said. “This proves that people are desperate to partake in their activities hence risk being arrested. Interestingly, the number of people who have been tested for coronavirus is far behind the number of people who have been arrested.”
The young people said focusing more on awareness programs about COVID 19 was more essential.
They noted that strict lockdown somehow makes people do their activities in a way that actually increases the risk of more infections for instance there are people who are reportedly doing their businesses before 6am when the police or soldiers are not present.
They emphasized that the government needs to be strict on making sure that people are doing their activities in a way that does not create room for spreadingthe virus.
Many of them admitted that masks were being worn in the presence of security officers rather than for the prevention of the virus; when socialising with their friends and relatives, they do not adhere to these preventative measures. This sustains their view that more awareness initiatives are needed in communities that are seemingly dropping their guard and trivialising the risk that is still posed by the pandemic.
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