Heal Zimbabwe’s Early Warning and Early Response Situation Room is monitoring how communities are reacting to the national lockdown which was announced by the President on the 27th of March, 2020. Below are some of the reactions recorded today, the 8th of April 2020:
Manicaland
Nyanga
Today there was a food aid distribution meeting in Chibvura village (ward 2) that was attended by approximately 120 people. Issues of social distancing were emphasized at the meeting and there were sanitizers for people to wash their hands. The meeting ran from 8am to 2pm.Shops opened from 8am to 14:30pm. In ward 18, community members stayed at home.
Mutasa
Today it was business as usual for community members in ward 21 as they conducted their day to day activities. All shops opened from 8am to 2pm.
In ward 31, community members complied with the lockdown regulations by staying at home. Soldiers and Police officers were seen at most business centres such as Chisuko, Ruda and Hauna enforcing the lockdown.
Buhera
Most community members in ward 5 Majengwa village stayed at home. Community members in Ward 5 Manjengwa Village stayed at home. Shops opened at 8am and closed around 6pm.In ward 9,Chitanda village, community members also stayed at home.
Chipinge
It was business usual in ward 3, Mutewa village. Most shops opened at 8am and closed around 3pm.Police officers were deployed around 08:00hours to 18:00hours and moved around business centres peacefully dispersing people who were gathered in groups.
In ward 1, most community members stayed at home. A Ministry of social welfare food aid distribution exercise will be conducted in the ward tomorrow.
Chimanimani
Community members in Ward 7 stayed at home. All shops opened around 08:00hours to 18:00hours. Police officers and Soldiers were deployed around 07:00hours to help enforce the lockdown.
Makoni Ward 16
On 7 April 2020, at around 1100hrs, a group of soldiers harassed and tortured a community member who was on his way to purchase sugar at Chiware Business centre. The soldiers forced him to sweep a tarred road using his fingers and palm. The man was left with swollen and bruised hands.
Makoni
It was business as usual for community members in Taruvinga village, ward 2. There was a social soccer tournament at Chiwanga playing field where both the old and young were drinking beer as they cheered their teams.
Mashonaland East
Maramba-Pfungwe
Kafura Clinic in Ward 2 is turning away community members who want to vaccinate their children against killer diseases. The nurses at the clinic highlighted that they are only treating people with chronic diseases only.
Mutoko Centre
Community members from around Ward 20 spent the whole day queuing for cheaper mealie-meal at Gains Wholesale. Soldiers and police officers were also in the queue and they not worried about people observing social distancing.
Midlands
Chirumhanzu
In ward 24, shops are opening from 9am-11am and then from 2pm-3pm. People who breach lockdown regulations are being made to pay a fine of ZW$200. Clinics are opening from 8am. In ward 11 most people are complying with the lockdown as witnessed by social distancing even when people are at grinding mills.
Chiwundura
In ward 11, community members are staying at home. The local clinic is opening from 8am but there is shortage of drugs as most people are being turned away unattended.
Mashonaland West
Chinhoyi
On 7 April 2020, soldiers assaulted three people in Gadzema suburb ward 2. The two people were accused of violating the lockdown regulations of staying at home. This was besides that the two people were coming from the shops to buy groceries. In ward 5, police also assaulted one person in Ruvimbo phase 1 for violating lockdown regulations.
Masvingo Province
Zaka
In ward 19 community members stayed in their homes. Shops were open and police moved around Jerera growth point encouraging people to stay at home.
Masvingo
People are complying and staying in their homes. Chitima vegetable market opened at 5am to 7am and the market was manned by the police who emphasized issues of social distancing. Most shops were open though there were fewer people in the town.
Mashava
Community members from ward 33 stayed in their homes today. Most shops were closed.
Bikita
In Ward 32 there was a group of people at chivanga play ground playing football. In ward 15 at Silveira business centre, police officers were patrolling encouraging people to stay at home.
Gutu
In ward 6 it is still business as usual as people gathering in groups and not observing social distancing.
Mwenezi
Shops at Neshuro business centre opened from 8am -12pm.Most people stayed at homes. Soldiers moved around most business centres instructing that people should stay in their homes.
Source: Heal Zimbabwe
