207 days of COVID-19 lockdown in Zimbabwe, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that, as of 22 October 2020, the total number of COVID-19 cases increased to 8 242, after 27 new cases were reported. Active cases went up to 264 after 17 new recoveries were recorded. The total number of recoveries stands at 7 742. The death toll stands at 236.
Emerging Critical Issues
Complacency and disregard of public health guidelines in public spaces
Our networks report increased economic and social activities within communities and businesses. The reports also reveal non-adherence to safety measures such as physical distancing, sanitization of workplaces and regular temperature checks.
Concerns continue to be raised over some commuter operators plying long distance routes failing to maintain public health safety protocols such as physical distancing, and sanitization. This raises concern as such slackening may affect the system’s ability to detect potential COVID-19 cases amongst the commuting public, thus exposing the public to infection. We worry that such conduct may lead the nation into another spike of COVID-19 cases:
- We continue to call for the strict implementation of public health safety protocols in the public spaces and public transport system.
- We urge enforcement agents to ensure compliance to public health safety protocols.
- We urge citizens to observe physical distancing as they meet and interact in public spaces.
- We urge businesses to continuously fumigate premises and workplaces for the safety of workers and patrons.
Outstanding issues
Safeguarding women’s and girls’ rights in the time of COVID-19
We continue to bring to the fore, safeguarding women’s and girls’ rights, during COVID-19. This is anchored on adequate representation of women in decision-making positions with the COVID-19 response structures. We emphasize that women’s solutions should be informed by women’s experiences and lived realities. We therefore highlight the lack of adequate women’s representation in various COVID-19 structures. We provide the following recommendations:
- A gender lens approach to all COVID-19 preparedness, response and recovery efforts by Government, Parliament, decision-makers, local authorities and other stakeholders.
- Implementation of Constitutional provisions, particularly, sections 17, 56 and 80, which speak to gender balance, and equality in representation in all spheres of the Zimbabwe society.
- Inclusion of more women’s rights organisations in the taskforce teams.
Source: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe
