In the midst of COVID 19 spike, Zanu Pf is defying health regulations learnt to contain the spread of the pandemic by holding campaign meetings in Chiredzi district and Masvingo Province at large.
BY PATRICK CHITONGO/COSTAIN SHAMU
The meetings are attracting an average of 200 people, against 50 that the Government approved as a measure to maintain social distance.
The meetings opened two weeks ago. The first was an inter District Coordinating Committee that saw about 300 people packed in Chitsanga hall.
The following week Masvingo province was shocked by recording a spike in COVID 19 cases, shooting from 0 to 94 cases on Thursday last week.
The province is now burdened with over 100 active COVID 19 cases after days of zero new infections since the partial upliftment of COVID 19 rules.
A sequel to the Chitsanga Hall meeting, where a road map to the 2023 elections was rolled out, is underway in all the districts, wards and cells of the rullling party.
These meetings are attracting crowds of not less than 200 people.These scenerios pause a threat to the containment of COVID 19.
Chiredzi West Member of Parliament Farai Musikavanhu who was interviewed on the sidelines of one such gathering in Ward 3 Chiredzi urban on Sunday professed ignorance over the matter.
“Why are you here if you know that we are violating Covid-19 regulations.” Musikavanhu said.
Masvingo province is on high alert over the latest shocking new cases. In Chiredzi, a Culture Week commemoration Gala that was penned for Chitsanga Hall last week Friday, two days before the Zanu Pf meeting, was cancelled on the eleventh hour citing COVID 19 regulations. The Culture Week was organised by local artists together with the Ministry of Youths, Arts, Sport and Culture.
Our investigations showed that there is fear among Health officials to warn the ruling party against the dangers of large gatherings.
A senior doctor who spoke to this publication but refused to be named said.
“It is sad that politics rules over everything to the extent that politicians sacrifice people’s lives. As health professionals we are now in panic because we are the ones most vulnerable because we work with patients. I suggest that political parties must find safer ways during their campaigns.
I also warn the public that your life is yours. Dont risk it for someone else”, he said.
Across the border, President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa announced new level 2 lockdown measures yesterday (Sunday) in response to the worrying surge of new Covid-19 infections.
Masvingo Provincial Medical Officer Dr Amadius Shamu said the highest number of new cases were recorded at Bondolfi Teachers College but also encouraged the police to enforce the Covid 19 regulations so as to curb the spread of the virus.
“The highest number of new cases only came from Bondolfi Teachers College but it’s up to the law enforcers to make sure the Covid 19 regulations are respected, to counter the spread the disease.” said Shamu.
Former National War Veterans Commissar Francis Nhando said the Police must protect the general public in the wake of the new wave.
“We have regulations that were put in place by Government and these must be followed by everyone including all political parties. Our security system must be liberal because they too will also suffer the consequences of the new wave.
It is the duty of the police to enforce the law without fear and favour” Nhando said.
