by Innocent Mujeri
THE leader of the opposition Labour, Economists and African Democrats (LEAD), Linda Masarira, has described President Emmerson Mnangagwa as a caring and loving leader who has taken time to assess the impact of COVID-19 on people.
President Mnangagwa yesterday toured Mabvuku, Tafara, Kuwadzana, Marimba, Mufakose, Glen View, Budiriro, Highfield, Glen Norah and Chitungwiza, to have an appreciation of how people are faring amid the 21-day lockdown period.
In an interview with this publication, Masarira applauded President Mnangagwa for touring Harare and Chitungwiza suburbs and said this showed that the President cares for his people.
“President Mnangagwa should be applauded for what he has done (touring Harare). This shows that he is a caring and loving father who always wants to see how his children are doing during this lockdown period. I think this is the first time a Head of State took time to personally assess a situation than relying on third parties who might misrepresent facts,” said Masarira.
Masarira said the President’s tour showed that he was leading from the front in efforts to control the pandemic.
“The tour showed that President Mnangagwa is taking the fight against COVID-19 seriously. I hope he will continue assessing the situation to see how the lockdown conditions can be relaxed to allow people to fend for themselves,” said Masarira.
Masarira further urged Zimbabweans to join hands with the Government in the fight against COVID-19 and stop treating the disease as Government’s responsibility.
“I urge my fellow Zimbabweans not to take the lockdown as a (President) Mnangagwa thing but to take it as a measure to preserve their lives. Everyone should join hands with the Government and assist in the fight against COVID-19 disease,” she said.
The LEAD president said they were waiting for delivery of masks, sanitizers and some personal protective equipment from South Africa which they intend to donate towards the fight against COVID-19.
“As a party, we are going to assist the Government in the fight against COVID-19.We have ordered some masks, sanitizers and personal protective equipment from South Africa and we will donate the items to various COVID-19 isolation centres. As LEAD, we always spring into action whenever human life is threatened regardless of our political differences,” Masarira said.
COVID-19 has caused havoc across the globe and to date nine Zimbabweans have been diagnosed with the disease, with one of them succumbing to the disease.
President Mnangagwa announced a 21-day lockdown period to try to curb the spread of the virus before it affected many people.
