Zimbabwe Extends Lockdown

Zimbabwe has extended its lockdown by a further two weeks, meaning restrictions will be in place until at least May 3rd.

Among the restrictions are the closure of schools, designation of quarantine facilities and banning of gatherings of more than 50 people. The Government has also declared a state of national disaster.

The Government has, however, given the mining sector permission to resume operation and the tobacco sector is also expected to go ahead with its selling season, albeit with modifications such as the decentralisation of sales at tobacco auctions in a bid to minimise crowds.

The manufacturing sector will also resume some activity, however, this will remain limited for the time being.

Previous warnings from business leaders said that the pandemic could see the loss of 25% of formal and 75% of informal jobs in the country.

The initial lockdown was imposed on March 20 and scheduled to end at midnight yesterday. However, President Mnangagwa announced an extension on the basis that the country did not meet the conditions established by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for loosening restrictions.

“It has been a very hard decision that my government has had to take reluctantly,” President Mnangagwa told the nation.

As it stands Zimbabwe has 25 confirmed cases and 3 fatalities of COVID-19. Experts say the figure may not capture the full spread of the virus as limitations of testing could mean cases are going undetected. The Government has announced its intention to expand testing so it can identify and isolate cases early on.