Contextual Assessment
In 2019 the government had gazetted the Constitutional Amendment No.2 Bill, which seeks to introduce 27 amendments to the constitution. The hearings were scheduled for March 29, to April 3, 2020 but were later suspended due to Covid-19.
Many citizens are of the view that the move exposes citizens to the Covid-19 virus, as more citizens will participate exceeding the requirement of people required to gather. The hearings are more likely to bring a half-baked outcome, as only 50 people would be allowed to participate as stipulated by the Covid-19 regulations and in Masvingo Province with seven districts the hearings are only conducted in two districts Masvingo urban and Chivi. In rural areas people are living in a serious dilemma in which they do not know what is happening on the ground thus they are in their own dark world.
Updates
Many motorists in Masvingo urban last week and the beginning of this week start by spending a lot of their productive time on fuel queues. Motorists have been queuing for days as fuel pumps run dry, with many filling stations empty and only a few stations selling fuel with foreign currency.
MACRAD team also observed that in high density areas people are spending the day playing soccer. Despite the lockdown regulations at big grounds surrounding Mucheke stadium young men are seen playing social soccer league games on a daily basis. It was reported that some are now engaging in money games.
The President announced today 15 June 2020, as National Day of prayer and fasting where all citizens were encouraged to fast and pray. Many people on social media platforms were against the day accusing the government for corruption and misgovernance. In Masvingo Urban councilor G.Kurauone of ward 4 spent a day, giving food hampers and having lunch with the blind and people with disability at Mucheke Bus Terminals.
Source: Masvingo Centre for Research and Community Development (MACRAD)
