By Political Reporter

President Mnangagwa yesterday extended the level four national lockdown saying that the country is still battling the Covid 19 disease hence there was need to curb the spread of the pandemic by enforcing a lockdown.

Speaking at State House yesterday, the President bemoaned the rising numbers of Covid 19 cases and deaths and said these should come down.

“While the national lockdown goals are now within sight, the numbers of active cases and deaths however are still very high. These need to come down further.

“Every life lost is a big loss to us, I therefore, extend the national lockdown by further two weeks. The extension will allow the number of active cases and those still in incubation to recede. This extension should cause a great reduction in the pool of infected people, enable health personnel time to investigate and monitor the presence and circulation of new variants,” said the President.

The President announced a new set of lockdown measures that will come into effect today.

Under the new measures, hours of business will be from 8am to 5pm, while the curfew is now from 8pm to 5.30am and curfew has been revised to start from 2000 hours to 0530 hours the next morning.

Intercity travel and Provincial commuting remains banned while funeral gatherings remain pegged at 30 people. Other social gatherings remained banned.

The President further said that staffing levels in Government will be increased from 10 percent to 25 percent, while those in the informal sector may only open once they have satisfied WHO protocols that include testing, washing hands and social distancing.

Essential services are to remain functional while schools remain closed.

The President thanked the people of Zimbabwe for observing the fundamental lockdown measures.

“I thank you all, most sincerely, for observing the fundamental lockdown measures,” said President Mnangagwa.

President Mnangagwa also thanked the Chinese Government for donating vaccines that are to be used to inoculate people.

 “As I address you, our nation this morning received its first consignment of vaccines from the People’s Republic of China. Let me again thank the Chinese government for this gesture of great humanity. We will forever remain grateful to the Chinese government and people for standing with us.

“I am also happy that the second consignment of vaccines procured from the People’s Republic of China will be received in a few weeks. As already indicated vaccines from other countries namely Russia, India and the United Kingdom, are also on the way. That should see our pace of vaccinating thus drawing us nearer the goal of achieving herd immunity,” said the President.

President Mnangagwa said the ultimate goal is return to normal lives so that children can go back to school and that people will resume collective efforts towards recovery and growing our economy for the realisation of vision 2030.

He added that the Ministry of Health and Child Care will announce to the nation how the vaccination program is going to be rolled out.

The President urged people to remain vigilant, focused and continue to adhere to all the lockdown measures.