709 days of the COVID-19 Lockdown, and as of 7th March 2022, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 239 710 after 501 new cases all local cases, were recorded. The highest case tally was recorded in Manicaland with 138 cases. We note that the Hospitalisation rate data as at 15:00hrs on 6 March 2022, was: 69 hospitalised cases: 70 New Admissions, 6 Asymptomatic cases, 53 mild-to-moderate cases, 4 severe cases and 4 cases in Intensive Care Unit. A total of 1 846 people received their 1st dose of vaccine. The cumulative number of the 1st dose vaccinated now stands at 4 375 583. A total of 1 596 recipients received their second dose bringing the cumulative number of 2nd dose recipients to 3 409 575. A total of 1 521 people received their 3rd dose of vaccine shots bringing the cumulative for 3rd doses to 141 773. Active cases went up to 5 128. The recovery rate remains at 96%. The total number of recoveries went up to 229 183 increasing by 439 recoveries. The death toll remained at 5 399, after 0 deaths were recorded.
We commend the administrative and operational amendments of regulations pertaining to lockdown that have facilitated the full resumption of all ports of entry in particular land border.
We join the rest of the women in Zimbabwe and across the globe in celebrating International Women’s Day! Happy International Women’s Day to all the amazing diverse women who are fighting to make a mark in their respective spheres. We celebrate all women, who against all odds, have fought to keep it together, despite taking the hardest hit of the pandemic.
Area of Concern
Status of Women and Girls In COVID-19 Recovery
We raise the need to directly address the mechanisms to ensure an equitable post-COVID-19 recovery for women and girls and to ensure that the recovery of the pandemic does not create a more unjust an inequitable world. We highlight the Global Oxfam Report indicating that the pandemic has caused women around the world USD$800 billion in lost income. Notably, whilst some Governments have taken steps to address women’s economic and social security, the reality faced by women is that greater inclusion in post-pandemic programmes that address the needs of women directly at macro and micro levels are necessary. We note with concern that women’s over-represented low-paid, precarious sectors like retail, tourism and food services, lost more than 64 million jobs in 2020, a 5% total loss, compared to a 3.9% loss for men. This gender disparity in negative outcomes is mirrored in Zimbabwe, indeed even more so as women are largely over-represented in the informal a sector which makes up the majority of Zimbabwe’s household and income base. Women in Zimbabwe accordingly have accordingly been carrying the burden disproportionately loss of livelihoods, weaknesses in healthcare delivery services, limited and weak social security systems, and increased gender-based violence.
- We call for the re-prioritisation of women at the centre of Government inventions in Zimbabwe
- We urge the Government to develop, adopt, modify and implement policies which intentionally target and support women in particular the provision of access to financial resources to increase women’s
- We call for structural reforms in the land tenure systems of the country, the revision of the current predatory and regressive taxations systems and investments into health, education, water and sanitation infrastructure and systems at National level to deliver better outcomes for women directly.
Source: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe
