by Christopher Makaza

Ministry of Health and Child Care has begun mass testing of COVID-19 in Chitemere Village, Mhondoro-Mubaira, and surrounding villages after two people in the area, who were in contact with the late Gogo Nguni nee Chitemere tested positive for the deadly virus.

There are fears that there might be local transmission within the Chitemere community as the latest positive cases did not live at the same homestead with the late Gogo Nguni.

Former MP for Mhondoro-Mubaira Constituency and former Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office, Mr Sylvester Nguni who is son to the late Gogo Nguni, his wife and his two sisters, all of whom were with Gogo Chitemere when she was taken to a private hospital in Harare, have tested negative for COVID-19.

Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo, yesterday, confirmed that mass testing has since begun in the village. 

“Our teams from Harare and Mashonaland West have since started combing the whole area, tracing and testing all individuals as we try to get to the bottom of this issue,” said Dr Moyo. 

According to the latest COVID-19 update from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, three more cases tested positive on Saturday bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 31. The latest three`s condition was reportedly stable and were not in hospital.

Harare now has 13 confirmed cases followed by Bulawayo with 10, Mashonaland East  4, Mashonaland West  3 and Matabeleland North  1.

Meanwhile, the Ministry remains vigilant on the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to urge the nation to practise good personal hygiene and exercise social distancing.