The coronavirus invaded Zimbabwe
The coronavirus invaded Zimbabwe in March 2020. The government used the COVID-19 virus as a political bait to ask for help from the international creditors such as the IMF and World Bank. The economy of Zimbabwe has deteriorated for decades due to corruption, mismanagement, and the current drought. The government has also used coronavirus to ask for food aids to survive and maintain the citizens. The government is using the virus to appeal to institutions like the African Development Bank, European Investment Bank, and IMF to clear the loan arrears and access new funds or the emergency fund. Due to the current drought in Zimbabwe, the municipal government at Bulawayo city is using the coronavirus pandemic, which requires plenty of water for handwashing, to ask for the government funds to address the menace.
Zimbabwe’s control measures have critical health concerns to address coronavirus pandemic. The country’s lack of COVID-19 testing kits resulted in 23 corona cases and three deaths by April 16. The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) stated that the government had inadequate testing facilities for the coronavirus. By April 12, the country had only one testing center. The poor road network caused delays in the delivery of blood samples to the hospitals, which led to little or no control of the virus. The underfunded health sector in Zimbabwe is another cause why the control measure in the country is low. The healthcare workers, including doctors and nurses, walked out of hospitals due to lack of salaries and essential protective gear, thus exposing the country to more coronavirus danger.
Police brutality was evident on footage going round in social media where the policeman ceased and destroyed the vegetables of a trader. The president announced a 21-day lockdown to fight coronavirus spread. The violation of the lockdown resulted in police and military brutality to limit the movement of people. Police elected checkpoints to enforce restrictions and arrest people without authorization to enter the central business of Harare. Police officers armed with batons went around telling people to get out of the streets and stay at home. The lockdown meant tougher times to the citizens of Zimbabwe, who were forcibly evicted by police from the streets. Police officers on horses and bicycles at Bulawayo city sent traders from the market places. Police officers prohibited movement beyond 5-kilometers and closed indefinitely cheap public markets.
The government established control measures such as shift rotation for the health workers, to reduce infections and contacts. Hospitals were identified, renovated and served as isolation centers. The government enhanced isolation, trace, and quarantine of all contacts persons for the entire incubation period. Another control measure is the screening at point of entry into Zimbabwe. Visitors from countries with confirmed cases of the virus are screened, must fill a health questionnaire, and keep a social distance. Self-quarantine for 21 days was initiated for individuals from countries with local transmission. Anybody showing symptoms of COVID-19 was taken to isolation centers for more testing and monitoring. The other measure is the use of hand sanitizers, masks, and gloves, which are being distributed by the government to people all over the country.
The government of Zimbabwe started the isolation centers to help in follow up once the person was identified to have symptoms of coronavirus. Quarantine and testing were done to ensure the virus was contained, and the infected persons recovered fast enough. Due to the lack of testing kits, reagents, and testing facilities, the government is hesitant to retest people who are in isolation centers or who have undergone screening unless they are critical cases. The government encourages self-quarantine even for those who have recovered.