The Institute for Community Development (ICOD Zim) on Thursday 09 April 2020 at 1100hrs intervened as the Zimbabwe Republic Police from Masvingo Province went on a rampage and forced all pharmacies to close thereby going against the statutory instrument 83 of 2020 which gave room for service providers of essential services to remain open for longer hours.
Women with disabilities who form the majority of ICOD Zim membership lamented the act of closure of pharmacies at 1pm rather than the scheduled 3pm. In light of this women and the general populace from Masvingo felt short changed and could not access critical medication as well as other essentials like sanitizers, gloves in these difficult circumstances of COVID 19.
The ICOD Zim along with its lawyer Advocate Martin Mureri sought redress of the situation and engaged the Zimbabwe Republic Police to have the anomaly addressed. Representing the citizens through ICOD Advocate Mureri and Nyaradzo Mtande of ICOD Zim met with District Police Officer for Masvingo District Superintendent Boyce at Rujeko Police Station to highlight the plight of the citizens who felt early closure of pharmacies was not a good thing and the relief sought was to have pharmacies extent their opening hours from 1pm to at least at the minimum close at 3pm. The police details could still monitor the influx of people going in town to avoid unnecessary movements thereby creating higher risk of the spread of the pandemic.
The District Police Officer gave the nod and communication has been circulated to the pharmacies around town and all pharmacies are now closing at 3pm.
The ICOD Zim continues to encourage citizens to follow religiously the instructions given by the Government of Zimbabwe and stay at home to increase chances of not spreading the virus.
Source: Institute for Community Development (ICOD Zim)