Contextual Assessment
During the lockdown period under scrutiny, the operating environment is characterized by political tensions and the debilitating economy continued to nose dive and this negatively affected the provision of health, water services among other basic services. Despite the government’s directive that water should be available to residents it still remains a cause of concern mostly in Masvingo urban, Gutu and Chiredzi. Corruption and dilapidating service delivery, erratic water supply coupled with high charges and hiking of electricity charges has become more the norm than the exception. This has affected the provision of quality health services with the government failing to provide a lasting solution to this. In Chiredzi district residents are at risk of starving to death during the lockdown after ZANU-PF Honourable Musikavanhu hijacked the government subsidised mealie-meal scheme meant to cushion the public. Only citizens who are members of the ruling party benefited and the rest are excluded as there are being labelled traitors.
Updates
The opening of Great Zimbabwe University today in Masvingo urban brought fear to residents. Residents argued that the returning of final year students to their campuses put them at risk, as they will be travelling from different areas and numerous movements of students from campus to campus as the university has a number of dotted campus areas in the town and in Mashava mine. From 2020-06-08 COVID-19 statistics Masvingo province has 39 confirmed cases from the 282 total cases in the country. The positive people are at Rujeko isolation centre. All the positives recorded in Masvingo are Zimbabwean returnees who are staying at quarantine centres around the province. One of the quarantine centre, Masvingo Teachers College shares the same campus with the university has students who visited the main campus will be exposed to these returnees were positive cases are being confirmed daily. ZUPCO buses will transport the returning students as intercity transport was banned.
A long queue was observed at Mukuru.com along Robert Mugabe Street in the early hours around 6am. People will be queuing to collect cash being sent from those in diaspora. Due to the economic hardship faced by our economy many citizens are relying on family members and friends who relocate to neighbouring nations seeking better employment and better opportunities. Zimbabwe heavily suffered from the 2008 economic meltdown as many professionals left the country and seek better opportunities in South Africa and other neighbouring nations with better performing economy.
About MACRAD
Masvingo Centre for Research Advocacy and Development (MACRAD) Trust is an independent Zimbabwean Community Based Civil Society institution committed to the development of socio-economic rights and agrarian systems that enhance equitable land rights and sustainable land uses throughout Zimbabwe. MACRAD interacts with various organizations and communities to assist them in developing capacity for policy formulation and research. It also facilitates policy dialogue among communities, governments, academics, civil society and others on land and agrarian development, especially the land rights of marginalized social groups. Masvingo Center for Research Advocacy and Community Development (MACRAD) is driven by a desire to contribute towards improved rural livelihoods that should lead to greater capacities for the rural poor to determine their own destinies and contribute towards national development. MACRAD has worked with citizens in resettlements areas around Masvingo Province on civic and voter education to ensure their voices are heard. We support victims and survivors of diverse forms of conflict, violence, displacement and disenfranchisement. MACRAD’s approach entails encouraging continuous policy debates and refinement of policy. This is achieved through generation and provision of research based information, platforms for dialogue, creating and nurturing a policy community in Zimbabwe. The ambition of Masvingo Center for Research Advocacy and Community Development (MACRAD) is to provide leadership in socio-economic justice and land-agrarian policy processes, to become a Centre of Excellence and remain an independent and credible center for knowledge on social and economic justice. We support victims and survivors of diverse forms of conflict, violence, displacement and disenfranchisement.
Source: Masvingo Centre for Research Advocacy and Development (MACRAD) Trust
