PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has described the spike in COVID-19 local transmissions as worrisome, saying the government will soon make another review of lockdown measures.
He was speaking at the Zanu PF headquarters during a Politburo meeting held this Friday.
Statistics released by the Ministry of Health and Child Care this Thursday show that COVID-19 positive cases in the country are now at 926, with 306 recoveries, 608 active cases, and 12 deaths.
Of note, however, is the recent spike in locally transmitted cases, with President Emmerson Mnangagwa hinting on a review of lockdown guidelines with the aim to strengthen preventive measures as well as testing and contact tracing.
“On the health side, the strategies we adopted to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic have to date yielded positive results,” said the President.
“Although there is a visible spike in the number of positive cases, largely due to returnees, we shall continue to strengthen our preventive measures as well as our testing, and contact tracing capacity. I urge the Party to continue to be at the forefront of raising awareness levels in our communities of the dangers of this pandemic.
“The recent rapid spike of infections requires that we make another review of the COVID-19 lockdown measures.”
The country is currently on indefinite level two lockdown to help combat the spread of the deadly pandemic.
President Mnangagwa also said the government’s recent drive to put greater scrutiny on the operations of mobile money service providers is a positive step towards economic stability while reflecting on various measures the government is taking to stabilise the economy.
“The country continues to witness various developments across all sectors, adding that on the economic front a decision was made to put greater scrutiny on players involved in mobile money transactions which were necessitated by suspected underhand dealings bordering on criminality by some mobile network players,” said the President.
“Government also passed a decision to introduce the foreign currency auction system to stabilise the macro-economic environment and stop escalating prices pegged against a fictitious run-away black-market rate.”
President Mnangagwa said there is a need to improve foreign currency resources and raw materials for the productive sector as this will increase the availability and affordability of goods as well as the creation of jobs.
The President also warned workers unions to stop meddling in politics and political parties to use proper platforms to express themselves.
“We continue to see acts that seek to outrightly destabilise the peace, unity, and harmony we are enjoying in particular, through the use of platforms in the health, education, and security sectors. We shall never quiver or capitulate in the face of these machinations.”
“Zanu PF is a revolutionary party, a party of liberation, a party with a rich ideology, history, and a vision for the future. This character of our party is stronger than any challenge we may face no matter from what front or force. I urge those who purport to represent workers to do just that. It is a one-way traffic lane. Political ambitions and views belong to another lane. Choose the lane you walk on. Those in politics must seek the mandate of the people every five years, through the ballot box. That is the Constitutional way, that is the rule of law way that is the democratic way.”
On churches, the President said they should churn out the incorruptible word of God.
“To churches and man of the cloth, as a nation, we are yearning for you to churn out the incorruptible word of God to nourish and uplift us. I exhort us all to continue in prayer for our beloved nation.”
President Mnangagwa concluded his remarks by calling for all people in leadership positions to serve the people and the nation whole-heartedly, to shun corruption and lead with integrity.
