Africa-Press – Mozambique. Music, lots of alcohol and lots of fun. Such was Sunday (26-09) at Praia do Wimbe, in Pemba, the third largest bay in the world. The beach was full of people, despite calls for compliance with Covid-19 prevention measures.
Thousands of people seemed to be celebrating the end of the pandemic – some taking a dip, others enjoying the atmosphere and others sitting in restaurants by the sea, eating and drinking, with friends and family. And almost all without a face mask.
“I am very happy because they opened the beach today. I really missed coming here,” says Zaida Zacarias.
Like many others, Zaida hadn’t been to a beach for several months.
Less happy is Martins Mabasso, a doctor from Maputo now working in the capital of Cabo Delgado. He went to Wimbe beach to relax and was scared, not expecting to see what he did.
“Absolutely none of the prevention measures are being followed. I think that this opening of the beaches could allow for a fourth wave in the coastal provinces,” he says.
Also worried and alarmed is Tânia Spetrini, a businesswoman in the restoration area, who says that “we are not in a position to make mistakes like those I saw on the beach today”.
“I’m really scared, because I’m aware that in two, three days we’re going to have the president locking everything up again.”
Last week, President Filipe Nyusi announced the lifting of some restrictions, including the reopening of beaches, with bathers allowed to remain there only until 5:00 p.m., without crowding and with a ban on the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Since the start of the pandemic, Cabo Delgado Province has registered more than 4,900 confirmed Covid-19 cases, and 15 deaths from the disease.
