Masvingo Lock-Down Effects

Masvingo: Police here Tuesday mounted surprise roadblocks on all major roads leading into the central business district (CBD) before denying hundreds of workers and shoppers access into the city centre.

The police assisted by members of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) demanded from the travellers, letters from their employers or relevant documentation to prove they were going into the CBD to seek essential services.

Only workers in security, nurses, and employees of major retailers and banks were given safe passage into the city centre while the majority were turned back.

Buses from public mass transporter, ZUPCO buses had to temporarily halt operations as most of its passengers were ordered back at the checkpoints.

By mid-morning, the CBD, which is now bustling with shoppers and vendors, after the government lifted some of the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, was deserted.

Masvingo Covid-19 taskforce spokesperson Rogdres Irimayi said the stringent measures by the police of limiting people into the city was part of enforcement protocols to minimise the spread of Covid-19.

Masvingo has 65 confirmed positive cases to date and no death.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to announce new stringent Covid-19 restrictions soon.