by Staff reporter

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Acting Minister Jenfan Muswere has urged people to be responsible and contribute to the containment of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, which has to-date claimed more than 1000 precious lives countrywide.

In a press statement released yesterday, Acting Minister Muswere castigated people who abuse social media through peddling falsehoods about deaths of prominent people with a view to achieving political mileage.

“On a daily basis, we continue to lose loved ones and we are saddened to report that our death toll has reached 1000 mark figure. It is incumbent upon all Zimbabweans to play a role in contributing towards the containment of this disease, lest we all perish.

“It is quite saddening that the proliferation of fake news continues unabated all for the sake of scoring cheap political mileage. To this end, social media has been awash with fake news of deaths and ill health of prominent members of society, including celebrating the deaths of some prominent members of society,” reads part of the statement.

Acting Minister Muswere urged people to unite and have common vision in fighting the pandemic, echoing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s sentiments in his weekend address, where he implored all Zimbabweans to work together in the fight against COVID-19, as the deadly disease knows no political or social boundaries.

The Acting Minister revealed that the National Taskforce on COVID-19 during its weekly meeting on Monday 25 January 2021, noted that COVID-19-related deaths continue to rise, hence people should religiously adhere to COVID-19 protocols so as to flatten the curve.

The Taskforce noted with concern that some people, despite the upsurge in the number of infections and deaths related to the disease, continue to wantonly disregard lockdown measures. To this end, it was revealed that a total of 7082 people were arrested throughout the country for violating movement restrictions in the past week.

Regarding the issue of vaccine, Acting Minister Muswere said that President Mnangagwa indicated that a pronouncement will soon be made after the conclusion of scientific and empirical evidence being gathered by a team of scientists, medical professionals and experts.

The Acting Minister also said that the Government was grateful for the continued support from various stakeholders who are rendering support in the information dissemination field and in the production of COVID-19 materials.

As at 28 January 2021, the country had recorded 32642 positive cases, 1160 deaths  and  24 419 recoveries.